JUSTIN: “Yankees Can’t Afford to Wait: Sign This Left-Handed Free Agent Before It’s Too Late!”

With less than two weeks remaining before the New York Yankees’ pitchers and catchers are set to report to Tampa for spring training, the team still lacks a left-handed reliever on their 40-man roster. Securing one should have been one of the simplest tasks for the Yankees this offseason. Last year, the Yankees revitalized Tim Hill’s career, and the side-arming left-hander became a key contributor to their bullpen. Now 34 and a free agent, Hill should have been re-signed by the Yankees already. According to Sports Illustrated’s Pat Ragazzo, there is “mutual interest” between the Yankees and Hill, but the question remains: what’s causing the delay? The Yankees need to finalize this deal soon. While they’ve been connected to veteran left-handers Andrew Chafin and Brooks Raley in trade rumors, Hill remains the most logical choice. Ragazzo also noted that the Yankees face competition for Hill from the New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies, and Los Angeles Angels.

Hill, who turns 35 in February, had a strong season with the Yankees after being released by the White Sox last year. After posting a 5.87 ERA over 23 innings in Chicago, Hill found his stride under Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake. He recorded a 2.05 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP across 44 innings during the regular season, earning the trust of manager Aaron Boone and securing key appearances in high-pressure situations. Hill also allowed just one earned run in 8.1 playoff innings. His success aligns with Blake’s approach of inducing weak contact, as adjustments to his sinker helped him excel. According to Baseball Savant, Hill ranked among the league leaders in avoiding solid contact (1.7% barrel rate) and generating groundballs (68.1%) last season.

Since hiring Blake in 2020, the Yankees have successfully rebuilt their bullpen with reclamation projects like Hill. However, this success may now work against them, as Hill’s strong performance has increased his market value, potentially forcing the Yankees to pay more or risk losing him. To capitalize on Blake’s work with Hill, the Yankees must secure a deal before spring training begins.