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Predicting Boston Red Sox’s Opening Day Starting Rotation for 2022

By Brendan Mizgala

BOSTON, MA - JUNE 29: A bullpen is constructed in the concourse in advance of a training period before the start of the 2020 Major League Baseball season on June 29, 2020 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. The season was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - JUNE 29: A bullpen is constructed in the concourse in advance of a training period before the start of the 2020 Major League Baseball season on June 29, 2020 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. The season was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) /
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MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – SEPTEMBER 25: Rich Hill #21 of the New York Mets throws a pitch against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on September 25, 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Brewers defeated the Mets 2-1. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – SEPTEMBER 25: Rich Hill #21 of the New York Mets throws a pitch against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on September 25, 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Brewers defeated the Mets 2-1. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) /

Red Sox LHP: Rich Hill

If you asked me when the offseason began if the Red Sox would sign Rich Hill for the seventh time, I would’ve told you that I thought you were crazy. Well, turns out the Red Sox decide to sign Hill for the seventh time and the veteran lefty is a favorite to lock up that last rotation spot. While he’ll have to duel it out with Wacha and Paxton, it’s Hill that’s coming off of the best 2021 campaign, the odds are definitely in his favor.

There are some out there that will probably want to see Garrett Whitlock fight for this spot but he’s so damn good out of the bullpen I’d hate to lose that weapon. After what we saw Whitlock do in his rookie season he’s my top pick to fight for the closer roll in spring training. But that’s enough about him, let’s get back to D. Mountain.

At 41 years young, he posted a 3.86 ERA in 158.2 innings with a 4.34 FIP and 1.210 WHIP. He managed an impressive 8.5/3.1 K/BB ratio averaging 2.73 strikeouts for every free pass, pretty good. The veteran has more than enough gas left in the tank to hold down the fort as the fifth man in the rotation.

He’s signed to a one-year/$5M deal that could get up to $8M if he hits his incentive markers and it’s more than possible. With Hill in the rotation, this is a different look for the Red Sox as they’ve gone from a lefty-heavy pitching staff in years past to being righty dominant. It’s too early to know how this will affect things but having another veteran in the clubhouse is always a plus.

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