White Sox Add Left-Handed Reliever Tim Hill To One-Year Deal

The White Sox have agreed to a one-year deal worth $1.8 million with left-handed reliever Tim Hill, according to a report from ESPN’s Jeff Passan. 

Hill, who was non-tendered by the San Diego Padres last season should get plenty of innings in the White Sox bullpen. After trading away Kendall Graveman, Joe Kelly, Keynan Middleton, and Aaron Bummer and opting not to pick up Liam Hendriks's club option, the White Sox relief corps remains thin. Because of this Hill is in line to receive an increased number of high-leverage opportunities in Chicago. 

The 34-year-old owns a career 4.16 ERA and 1.304 WHIP throughout six seasons in the MLB. Hill began his career with the Royals, appearing in 116 games between 2018-2019. It adds to a continuous trend of the White Sox front office targeting former Royals players who played while Pedro Grifol was a bench coach in Kansas City. 

Hill is coming off a rough season where he posted a career-worst 5.48 ERA and -1.2 WAR.  his strikeout rate plummeted to just 12% which was well below the league average. In 48 appearances he also surrendered an average of 12 hits per nine innings which was the worst mark of his career. 

However, Hill has shown the ability to be an effective reliever. Left handed hitters have been limited to a .223/.302/.304 slash line over Hill's career. In 2019 he boasted a 3.63 ERA and 24.2% strikeout rate. The following season he owned a career-high 25.3% strikeout rate and induced a lot of weak contact with an average opponent exit velocity (85.1 mph) that ranked in the top seven percent of the MLB. 

Hill’s long extension and funky delivery help make up for a fastball that barely touches 90 mph. His four-pitch mix consists of a four-seam fastball, which he throws nearly 50 percent of the time as well as a sinker, slider, and cutter. While Hill may not have much velocity on his pitches he does have solid command. Last season he only walked 6.9% of the batters he faced. He also posted a 63.5 ground ball rate in 2023 which will be beneficial inside of a hitter's park like Guaranteed Rate Field, especially with Getz's emphasis on improving the White Sox infield defense this offseason.