Royals sign former Pirates pitcher Rich Hill to minor-league deal

HOUSTON — The Kansas City Royals are giving former Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Rich Hill another chance to pitch in the big leagues.

The Royals signed the 45-year-old left-hander to a minor-league deal Tuesday, and he will report soon to the club’s spring training facility in Surprise, Ariz. Once he gets up to speed, Hill likely will head to Triple-A Omaha and try to prove he can still help a major-league ballclub with designs on contending for the postseason.

Kansas City entered Tuesday night’s game in Houston tied for second in the AL Central.

Hill spent part of the 2023 season with the 2023 season with the Pirates before being traded to the San Diego Padres.

Hill made his big-league debut with the Cubs in 2005, and he has made 248 starts and appeared in 386 games over the past two decades. He has a 4.01 ERA with 1,428 strikeouts while pitching for 13 franchises; the Royals would be the 14th should he get called up, joining Edwin Jackson as the only players to play for that many clubs.

Hill made four appearances out of the Red Sox bullpen last season before he was designated for assignment in September. His best season was in 2016, when he went 12-5 with a 2.12 ERA while pitching for the Athletics and the Dodgers.