The New York Yankees reportedly have a pair of lefty bullpen arms in their sights as they continue a busy offseason that has included trading for Cody Bellinger and Devin Williams and signing Max Fried and Paul Goldschmidt, among other moves.
According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, "Andrew Chafin is high on the Yankees' list of lefty pen targets. Tim Hill is, too."
Chafin, 34, spent the 2024 season with the Detroit Tigers and Texas Rangers, going 4-3 with a 3.51 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 70 strikeouts and one save in 56.1 innings (62 appearances).
Hill, also 34, split time in 2024 between the Chicago White Sox and Yankees, finishing 4-0 with a 3.36 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 31 strikeouts in 67 innings (62 appearances). He appeared in 10 postseason games (8.1 innings) as well for the Yankees, posting a 1.08 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and three strikeouts.
Both would address the major need left on New York's roster—a left-handed arm in the bullpen. Currently, the Yankees' stable of relievers are all right-handed.
The team has previously been linked to Tanner Scott, the top left-handed reliever on the market. But Scott will cost more to acquire and the Yankees already addressed the closer role with the Williams' trade, so Chafin or Hill signings feel more likely.
The Yankees, to this point, have done well to address other needs, including the loss of Juan Soto to the crosstown Mets. New York has distributed that money to fill out a number of positions rather than just one, though the loss of a superstar always hurts.
A Chafin or Hill signing wouldn't be sexy, but the Yankees can't go into the season without a left-handed option in the bullpen.
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