The Los Angeles Dodgers aggressively addressed their bullpen over the offseason, adding Tanner Scott and potentially Kirby Yates to an already elite group from 2024.
Blake Treinen also returned on a two-year, $22 million contract.
Despite already having Scott join Alex Vesia to form the best left-handed reliever duo in MLB, the Dodgers are continuing to explore other bullpen options.
That began with their scouts attending Tyler Matzek’s throwing session on Jan. 24, and now they are reportedly interested in New York Yankees’ free agent Tim Hill, according to Pat Ragazzo of Sports Illustrated:
Hill enjoyed a strong season in 2024 with an ERA of 3.36 in 67 innings. He was extremely effective against left-handed hitters in particular with a 2.08 ERA, 15 strikeouts, and 1.35 WHIP.
There doesn’t seem to be room in the Dodgers’ bullpen with Vesia, Scott and Anthony Banda already in the mix, as well as a pretty stacked group in general. From the Dodgers’ perspective, they would love to have a pitcher of Hill’s caliber as organizational depth, but that might not be something he is interested in after the season he put together in 2024.
Matzek seems like a more plausible option as he was limited to 11 appearances in 2024 and missed all of 2023, but that is still not very likely with other interested teams offering a more direct path to playing time.
Tim Hill followed similar path to Dodgers reliever Michael Kopech
Like Dodgers reliever Michael Kopech, Hill benefited greatly from a change in scenery last season. Hill struggled to begin the season with the Chicago White Sox, owning a 5.87 ERA in 23 innings.
He was far more successful following his trade to the Yankees, with a 2.05 ERA in 44 innings. Hill was one of the Yankees’ best relievers in the postseason as well, only allowing one earned run in 8.1 innings pitched.
