Yankees sign former Padres sidearm reliever for pitching depth as injuries pile up
Just as the New York Yankees got Gerrit Cole back, they were forced to send Ian Hamilton and Cody Poteet to the injured list, with the former likely missing up to six weeks of action. It just never ends, does it?
Anyway, the Yankees made a move to address their lacking pitching depth, which has become evident over the last week. The starting rotation is starting to tire out. The bullpen just isn’t adequate and very few are stepping up to secure defined roles.
So on Thursday morning, Brian Cashman and Co. went out and signed veteran sidearmer Tim Hill. The lefty most recently played with the White Sox this season before being designated for assignment. He appeared in 27 games and logged a 5.87 ERA and 2.22 WHIP. Not good.
But Hill was a valuable piece of the Padres bullpen from 2021-2022. He pitched 107 2/3 innings across those two seasons and maintained a 3.58 ERA. He finished 31 games over that span.
Though a more aggressive bullpen move is needed, this will do for now. Hill clearly has the ability within him to be serviceable, and pitching coach Matt Blake has transformed many pitchers who have lost their way.
Yankees sign former Padres sidearm reliever to for pitching depth as injuries pile up
Hill’s 3.46 FIP during his stint with the White Sox might point to better days. Then again, his final year with the Pads in 2023 was really bad — his 5.48 ERA was right in line with his 5.49 FIP, and his 1.65 WHIP was a career-worst before the start of this season.
Then again again, both the 2023 Padres and 2024 White Sox are absolute dumpster fires. It’s hard to ask for premier production from middle-of-the-road players when the setting is as toxic as can be.
At the very least, Hill will give the Yankees a body and another lefty to put pressure on the not-so-impressive Victor Gonzalez and Caleb Ferguson. If he manages to outshine that duo in any capacity, then the Yankees will surely know the direction they need to go in at the trade deadline.
There’s an open spot on the 26-man roster, so Hill should slot right in without a corresponding move. Light lifting.
