Rich Hill teams timeline: MLB's oldest player climbs journeyman list after Pirates-Padres trade

Kyle Irving

Rich Hill teams timeline: MLB's oldest player climbs journeyman list after Pirates-Padres trade image

Stop me if you've heard this one before — Rich Hill is on the move.

The Padres have reportedly acquired the veteran pitcher and 1B/DH Ji-Man Choi from the Pirates for three minor league prospects: LHP Jackson Wolf, OF Estuar Suero and 1B Alfonso Rivas.

San Diego is looking to stay in the hunt of the NL Wild Card race with this move, entering trade deadline day five games back from a three-way between the Marlins, Diamondbacks and Brewers for the final playoff spot.

Hill gives the Padres' starting rotation an experienced left-handed arm, owning a pedestrian 4.76 ERA and 1.48 WHIP with 104 strikeouts over 119.0 IP this season.

MORE: Tracking all of the deals and rumors ahead of MLB trade deadline

MLB's oldest active player is no stranger to bouncing around from team to team, but how many franchises has Hill played for as he closes in on Edwin Jackson's famous record?

How many MLB teams has Rich Hill played for?

Once Hill takes the hill for the Padres, it will mark his 13th MLB franchise in 19 seasons.

That places him one team shy of RHP Edwin Jackson (14), who holds the league record for most teams played for. (In fact, Jackson's 14 teams played for ties him with NFL quarterback Josh Johnson for the record among all four major U.S. professional sports!)

Take a look at the teams that Hill has played for in comparison to Jackson:

Rich Hill teams Edwin Jackson teams
Chicago Cubs Los Angeles Dodgers
Baltimore Orioles Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Boston Red Sox Detroit Tigers
Cleveland Indians Arizona Diamondbacks
Los Angeles Angels Chicago White Sox
New York Yankees St. Louis Cardinals
Oakland Athletics Washington Nationals
Los Angeles Dodgers Chicago Cubs
Minnesota Twins Atlanta Braves
Tampa Bay Rays Miami Marlins
New York Mets San Diego Padres
Pittsburgh Pirates Baltimore Orioles
San Diego Padres Oakland Athletics
  Toronto Blue Jays

How old is Rich Hill?

Hill is 43 years old, making him the oldest player in MLB this season.

He joins DH Nelson Cruz (43), RHP Adam Wainwright (41) and RHP Justin Verlander (40) as the only 40-year-olds to have played in MLB this season. 

Jackson, incidentally, still hasn't reached that milestone yet. He will turn 40 on Sept. 9 but hasn't played in the majors since 2019. 

As MLB's Sarah Langs pointed out, with Cruz (who was DFA'd in July) and Hill, the Padres will be the first team to have two players appear for them at age 43+ in a season since the 2005 Astros with RHP Roger Clemens (43) and LHP John Franco (44).

Rich Hill contract

Hill signed a one-year, $8 million contract with the Pirates this offseason. According to Spotrac, his adjusted salary with the Padres will be $2,623,671.

Hill will be an unrestricted free agent after this season.

Year Salary
2023 $8 million
2024 UFA

Rich Hill 2023 stats

  • 119.0 innings pitched
  • 22 games started
  • 7-10 record
  • 104 strikeouts
  • 4.76 ERA
  • 1.48 WHIP

Kyle Irving

Kyle Irving Photo

You read that wrong – not Kyrie Irving. From Boston, graduated from the University of New Hampshire. Sixth season as a content producer for NBA.com's Global editions. Covering the NBA Draft has become his annual "dream come true" moment on the job. Irving has a soft spot for pass-first point guards, with Rajon Rondo and Steve Nash being two of his favorite players of all time.