Here we go again. A month after they got beat out for top free agent Juan Soto and lost their closer Clay Holmes to their crosstown rivals, the New York Yankees find themselves in the mix with the New York Mets for another free agent.
According to reports, the Yankees and Mets are both interested in left-handed reliever Tim Hill. “Mets are also considering signing the 34-year-old who emerged as a dependable weapon in The Bronx, The Post confirmed,” Dan Martin wrote.
Signing a left-handed reliever is one of the action items on the Yankees list before spring training, along with signing an infielder and a backup catcher. Hill makes a lot of sense for the Yankees, who helped him revive his career after the White Sox released him on June 18th. He had a 5.87 ERA in 27 appearances. In 35 regular season appearances for the Yankees, Hill pitched to a 2.05 ERA and allowed just one earned run over 7 1/2 innings in the playoffs.
Left-handers Andrew Chafin and ex-Met Brooks Raley are also on the Yankees’ radar. Raley is returning from Tommy John surgery and won’t be ready for the start of the season.
He pitched just eight games last season, but in his last full season, Raley, 36, was very effective with a changeup that is among the tops in baseball in movement. Chafin has been a reliable veteran in 11 years in the big leagues. Last season, he posted in his 37 innings with the Detroit Tigers before he was dealt to the Texas Rangers. He was not as reliable there; however, Chafin pitched to a 4.19 ERA in Arlington, and his walk rate jumped to nearly 18 percent. Under new billionaire owner Steve Cohen, the Mets have challenged the Yankees more in the free agent market than in the past under the Wilpon ownership. Just this winter, they outbid the Yankees for Soto with a $765 million deal and lured Holmes across town on a three-year contract and a chance to return to the starting rotation.
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