The Yankees are up against the Dodgers, and the Mets are vying for a key free agency relief pitcher.

MLB Rumors: The Yankees are up against the Dodgers, and the Mets are vying for a key free agency relief pitcher.

If teams were serious about contending for a World Series title, they would never have enough good bullpen arms. Good southpaws who can come in and assist close the door entirely are even harder to find. As a result, even at this late point in free agency, teams with high goals are showing a lot of interest in left-handed relief pitcher Tim Hill, who finished the 2024 season with the New York Yankees.

The New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers have reportedly been monitoring the 34-year-old lefty in addition to the Yankees' desire to keep him in the Bronx, according to Pat Ragazzo of Sports Illustrated. 

Two teams at the bottom of the standings, the Colorado Rockies and the Los Angeles Angels, have also tried to sign Hill. The Arizona Diamondbacks are another team trying to get Hill away from the Yankees.

Ragazzo clarified that Hill and the Yankees have "mutual interest" in getting back together, but the Mets remain a threat because Hill is reportedly interested in joining the Queens-based team.

It's only fitting that the Mets will be the team that steps up to the plate as the Yankees' biggest contender for the services of someone who served the 2024 team well. As one would recall, the Mets were the team that gave Juan Soto a contract he simply could not refuse. And with them looking to one-up the Yankees at every turn, no one should be surprised if Hill joins them as well.

Just how much can Tim Hill help a contending team such as the Yankees or Mets?
Getting the platoon advantage may not be as important as it was in the past, but it's clear just how much this consideration will matter when it comes to any team's interest in Tim Hill.

 Hill is a lefty who performs better against opposing lefties; in 2024, he allowed just a .643 OPS against southpaws, while right-handed batters hit for a .303 batting average against him. (.704 OPS).

Throwing Hill out on the mound when multiple lefties are up to bat in an inning could be helpful for a contending team; but with Hill not exactly having a long track record of success (he has a career 1.4 WAR, per Fangraphs, and he's been pitching since 2018), he shouldn't cost too much for a contending team that is still looking to fill an empty bullpen spot or two.