Angels News: Halos Starting Pitching Target Signs With Pirates
Another starting pitcher is off the free agency board, as LHP Rich Hill signed a one-year, $8 million deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Jeff Passan was first to report on the agreement on Tuesday.
Hill, who turns 43-years-old in March, was one of the starting pitchers linked to the Angels this offseason. Last year, he had a 4.27 ERA in 124.1 innings pitched. In 2021, he had an even better 3.86 ERA in an impressive 158.2 innings.
The Pirates will be Hill's 12th team over the course of his now 19-year career. Hill actually played in two games with the Angels in 2014, allowing an earned run, three walks and not even recording an out. So, his career ERA with the Angels will stay at infinity for the time being.
As for the Angels, they'll now have to look elsewhere to fill their sixth and final starting pitcher spot. They've been linked to All-Star RHP Nathan Eovaldi, and two-time Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber, among others. Starting pitcher remains one of the biggest needs on this team, and something that general manager Perry Minasian still wants to fill.
Hill wouldn't have been the best fit with the Halos, as they already have four lefties in their rotation. Eovaldi and Kluber are both right-handed, and Eovaldi is still just 32-years-old (Kluber is 36). They would make a lot more sense for the Angels next season.
