Aaron Boone announced the two top players.
With less than two weeks until the New York Yankees’ pitchers and catchers report to Tampa for spring training, the team still lacks a left-handed reliever on its 40-man roster. This should have been one of the easiest moves of the offseason. After helping to revive Tim Hill’s career last year, the sidearming left-hander became a crucial part of the Yankees’ bullpen. Now a free agent, the 34-year-old should have already been re-signed.
According to Sports Illustrated’s Pat Ragazzo, there is “mutual interest” between Hill and the Yankees, yet no deal has been finalized. The Yankees have also been linked to veteran lefties Andrew Chafin and Brooks Raley in trade discussions, but Hill remains the most logical option. However, they face competition from the Mets, Dodgers, Diamondbacks, Rockies, and Angels.
Hill, who turns 35 in February, had a strong season with the Yankees after being released by the White Sox, where he struggled with a 5.87 ERA over 23 innings. Under Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake, he turned things around, posting a 2.05 ERA and 1.02 WHIP over 44 regular-season innings, earning Aaron Boone’s trust in high-pressure situations. In the postseason, he allowed just one earned run over 8.1 innings.
Blake and the Yankees adjusted Hill’s sinker usage to align with their philosophy of inducing weak contact, leading to one of the best seasons of his career. According to Baseball Savant, Hill ranked among the league’s best in limiting hard-hit balls (1.7% barrel rate) and generating groundballs (68.1%).
Since hiring Blake in 2020, the Yankees have successfully built their bullpen by revitalizing pitchers like Hill. However, that success now works against them, as Hill’s resurgence has drawn significant interest, potentially increasing his price. If the Yankees want to capitalize on their investment in his development, they need to finalize a deal before spring training begins.
