The New York Yankees could see another player leave the Bronx for Queens, as veteran reliever Tim Hill is now linked to the New York Mets.
After losing Juan Soto and Clay Holmes to the Mets in free agency, Hill, who was an important piece of the Yankees’ bullpen in 2024, has drawn interest from their cross-town rivals. According to insider Tim Healey, Hill has a strong 2.05 ERA in 35 appearances with the Yankees last season, including a stellar 1.08 ERA in 10 postseason games. Healey reports that the Mets, who are in need of relievers, could be a good fit for the left-hander.
Hill, 34, joined the Yankees after being released by the Chicago White Sox, and went on to have a significant role in their bullpen. He made 35 appearances and became a key setup man during the postseason, posting an impressive 1.08 ERA in 8.1 innings.
Since making his MLB debut in 2018, Hill has appeared in 382 games, recording a 3.99 ERA. In 2024, he signed a contract worth $740,000 with the Yankees.
Analyst Urges Yankees to Re-Sign Hill
MLB analyst Adam Weinrib believes the Yankees should bring Hill back, especially with the Mets showing interest. He suggests that the Yankees should act quickly to avoid losing another player to their rival.
“While Hill doesn’t generate a lot of strikeouts, his ground-ball, soft-contact approach worked well in the Bronx, especially with the Yankees’ infield defense,” Weinrib explained. “His 2.05 ERA in 35 games is impressive, and his ability to be effective even after struggling in Chicago shows that the Yankees were able to unlock his potential. The financial cost of re-signing Hill is minimal, and losing him to the Mets would be a bigger blow than the departure of Clay Holmes, or even Soto.”
Yankees Focused on Adding a Left-Handed Reliever
The Yankees are looking to add more bullpen depth, with a particular focus on left-handed relievers. According to Brendan Kuty of The Athletic, the team’s top priority is adding a left-handed arm, with Hill, Brooks Raley, and Andrew Chafin being discussed as potential targets.
In addition to looking for a veteran reliever, the Yankees recently acquired minor league right-handed pitcher Michael Arias from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for cash considerations. Arias had a 4.77 ERA and went 6-2 across 49 games between AA and AAA in 2024, with 5 saves to his name.
As the team prepares for spring training, re-signing Hill could help solidify their bullpen for the upcoming season.
