Yankees Fill Huge Need With Veteran Free Agent Pitcher
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JUNE 02: Tim Hill #54 of the Chicago White Sox throws a pitch during a game against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on June 02, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Brewers defeated the White Sox 6-3. Hill has signed with the Yankees.
The New York Yankees have made a much-needed addition to their bullpen.
On Thursday, ahead of the team's series finale against the Baltimore Orioles, the Yankees announced a deal with veteran left-handed pitcher Tim Hill. The deal is a Major League contract, and will pay him the prorated minimum for the rest of the year, which is just under $400,000. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Yankees designated left-handed pitcher Clayton Andrews for assignment.
The Yankees' bullpen has been depleted by injuries as of late, and New York is hoping Hill can provide some much-needed stability.
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Hill, 34, was designated for assignment by the Chicago White Sox — Major League Baseball's worst team — last week, and was released to become a free agent on Wednesday. It didn't take long for him to find his next home, as Hill goes from baseball's worst team to baseball's best team. Entering Thursday, the Yankees lead MLB with a record of 51-25. They're the only team with at least 50 wins.
Hill struggled in his lone half-season in Chicago, allowing 15 earned runs in 23 innings of work, a 5.87 ERA. He'll now work with Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake to turn those numbers around.
Hill's career began back in 2018 with the Kansas City Royals. The former 32nd-round pick in the 2014 MLB Draft spent two years in Kansas City before he was traded to the San Diego Padres ahead of the 2020 season. After spending four seasons in San Diego, Hill was non-tendered and signed a one-year deal with the White Sox this past offseason.
Between his struggles and the team deeply entrenched in a rebuild, the White Sox didn't feel a need to hold on to a 34-year-old reliever. So instead, Hill gets thrown into instant high-intensity baseball with the league's best team.
Hill has a career 4.30 ERA in 347 appearances. He was already added to the active roster, and will look to have a similar midseason turnaround that his now-teammate, Michael Tonkin, enjoyed.
After struggling with the New York Mets and Minnesota Twins to the tune of a 6.00 ERA in six appearances in 2024, Tonkin has been lights-out with the Yankees, sporting a 0.77 ERA in 17 appearances. If Hill can enjoy a similar turnaround, the Yankees will have found another midseason steal to bolster an ailing bullpen.
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