Former San Diego Padres reliever Tim Hill has had quite the journey this season. He started the year with Major League Baseball’s worst team, the Chicago White Sox, and on Thursday, he signed a one-year deal with the league’s best team, the New York Yankees.
The 34-year-old lefty was designated for assignment by the White Sox on June 12 and released on June 18. At the time of his release, his earned run average was 5.87. After the San Diego Padres non-tendered Hill following the 2023 season, he signed a one-year, $1.8 million contract with Chicago in December.
Veteran reliever Tim Hill and the New York Yankees are in agreement on a one-year deal, sources tell ESPN. The 34-year-old left-hander was DFA'd by the White Sox last week and will join a banged-up Yankees bullpen.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) June 20, 2024
New York was in dire need of an experienced reliever after placing Ian Hamilton on the injured list earlier this week. Additionally, they lost right-hander Jonathan Loaisiga to Tommy John surgery earlier in the season.
The Yankees boast the third-best bullpen ERA in the American League at 3.41. Pitching coach Matt Blake has excelled in helping right-handers Luke Weaver, Michael Tonkin, and Ron Marinaccio achieve the best seasons of their careers. He might be able to assist Hill in finishing this season better than it started.
Hill will join two familiar faces in the Yankees’ bullpen, former Los Angeles Dodgers relievers Caleb Ferguson and Victor Gonzalez, who are the other two left-handers in the bullpen.
Hill made 204 relief appearances for the Padres from 2020 to 2023, recording a 13-10 record with a 4.18 ERA.
