The New York Yankees have made a new addition to their team by signing veteran left-handed reliever Tim Hill to a one-year major league contract. This move comes after Hill was designated for assignment by the Chicago White Sox due to a rough patch that saw his ERA rise to 5.87. Despite this, Hill has maintained an impressive record of not allowing any home runs this season, with a groundball rate of 65.6%, which is the third-best among relievers in MLB.
Although Hill has struggled with his fastball, giving up 41 hits in 23 innings, he has been a reliable bullpen option since his debut with the Kansas City Royals in 2018, with a career ERA of 3.88 over the past five years. After being let go by the San Diego Padres in 2023, Hill signed a one-year, $1.8 million contract with the White Sox before joining the Yankees.
The Yankees, who have been dealing with injuries to key pitchers like Jonathan Loaisiga and Ian Hamilton, have managed to maintain the third-best bullpen ERA in the American League at 3.41. Pitching coach Matt Blake has been instrumental in helping right-handers like Luke Weaver, Michael Tonkin, and Ron Marinaccio have career-best seasons. Additionally, pitchers Scott Effross and JT Brubaker, who were sidelined due to Tommy John surgery, are on the road to recovery with rehabilitation assignments.
With the recent return of ace Gerrit Cole to the rotation and the presence of lefties Caleb Ferguson and Victor Gonzalez in the bullpen, the Yankees continue to strengthen their pitching staff with the addition of Tim Hill. As a team with the best record in baseball at 51-25, the Yankees are known for taking on reclamation projects and turning them into valuable assets. This signing demonstrates their commitment to bolstering their roster and maintaining their competitive edge in the league.