A reunion between Tim Hill and the Yankees always made sense. Now it’s happening.
The side-arming southpaw has agreed to a one-year, $2.85 million deal with the Yankees. The pact, yet to be officially announced, also comes with a $3 million club option for 2026 or a $350,000 buyout.
Hill and the Yankees had mutual interest in sticking together all offseason, though the veteran reliever received interest from other contenders. In the end, however, Hill chose the familiarity of a bullpen that lacked a lefty before Tuesday’s agreement.
“Tim had his eyes set on the Yankees,” Hill’s agent, Garrett Parcell, told the Daily News. “It’s a team he believes in. He wants to win a World Series.”
ESPN’s Jeff Passan first reported the deal between Hill and the Yankees.
Hill, 34, found success in the Bronx and spoke fondly of the pennant-winning Bombers on several occasions last year after being released by the historically awful White Sox in mid-June. Hill struggled in Chicago, posting a 5.87 ERA over his first 27 games and 23 innings. However, he recorded a 2.05 ERA over 35 games and 44 innings with the Yankees.
Hill’s ERA improved to 1.29 over his last 23 games, and he ended up leading all big league relievers with a 68.2% groundball rate before logging a 1.08 ERA over 10 appearances and 8.1 innings in the playoffs.
“He’s been awesome,” pitching coach Matt Blake, comparing Hill to ex-Yankee Wandy Peralta, said before the postseason. “A really trustworthy, strike-throwing lefty that can match up and get lefties on the ground. And he’s done a nice job of getting the righties out when it’s his turn, but we feel really good about him coming in, throwing the ball over the plate, putting guys on the ground in some high-leverage spots. I mean, he’s been tremendous for us in the last month and a half.”
Hill was so good for the Yankees that many questioned why Aaron Boone turned to another lefty — a fresh-off-the-IL Nestor Cortes — in Game 1 of the World Series. Both were warming with the top of the Dodgers’ order due up. Cortes eventually allowed a walk-off grand slam to Freddie Freeman.
Hill has also pitched for the Royals and Padres. He has a 3.99 ERA over his seven-year career.
With Hill coming back and a lefty on board, the Yankees should have a strong bullpen in 2025. They’ve made several changes to the group, acquiring closer Devin Williams from the Brewers and Fernando Cruz from the Reds. The team also re-signed Jonathan Loáisiga and lost Clay Holmes to the Mets and Tommy Kahnle to the Tigers.
With Yankees pitchers and catchers now a week away from reporting to spring training in Tampa, third base is the team’s biggest concern. With Jazz Chisholm Jr. penciled in at second, DJ LeMahieu, Oswaldo Cabrera and Oswald Peraza are the current candidates for the hot corner.