Yankees Exercise Tim Hill’s 2026 Club Option, Start Bullpen Rebuild

The New York Yankees just locked in one of their most dependable bullpen arms for the 2026 season. They exercised their $3 million club option on reliever Tim Hill.

Hill came over from the Chicago White Sox midway through the 2024 campaign. Since then, he’s become the team’s workhorse out of the pen, delivering steady results even as the bullpen struggled in 2025.

This move secures a proven postseason performer. It also signals the start of what looks like a decisive offseason for a reliever corps that finished in the bottom third of the league in ERA.

Tim Hill’s Journey to Becoming the Yankees’ Go-To Arm

When the Yankees traded for Tim Hill in mid-2024, not many expected how many high-leverage innings he’d throw over the next two seasons. Since joining New York, Hill has appeared in an eye-popping 105 games, making him the most-used reliever on the roster.

His 2025 campaign was rock solid, with a 3.09 ERA across 70 appearances. That ERA ranked second among Yankees pitchers.

Dominance on the Ground

Hill’s knack for inducing ground balls stands out—a big deal in the hitter-friendly Yankee Stadium. His 64.8 percent ground-ball rate in 2025 was the second-highest among all MLB relievers, just behind Philadelphia’s Jhoan Duran.

That ability to keep the ball on the ground has helped him avoid giving up damaging home runs. It’s a key reason he’s been so effective, both in the regular season and the playoffs.

Postseason Reliability

Playoff baseball demands nerves and execution under pressure. Hill’s delivered in this arena, surrendering just one run in 11⅓ innings over the last two postseasons.

He’s consistently shut down hitters in the biggest moments, and that’s not something every reliever can say.

The Lefty-Righty Split

Hill’s performance shows a growing split depending on the batter’s handedness. Left-handers have struggled badly, managing only a .444 OPS against him.

Right-handers, though, have found more success, posting an .836 OPS and turning 14 of their 35 hits into extra-base damage. Pitching coach Matt Blake might need to focus on this imbalance heading into 2026.

Impact on the Yankees’ Bullpen Strategy

Hill’s been a bright spot, but the Yankees’ bullpen as a whole just didn’t get it done in 2025. They finished 23rd in ERA, which feels pretty uncharacteristic for a team with championship goals.

Retaining Hill is an important first move, but it’s really just the start of GM Brian Cashman’s bigger plan to overhaul the relief corps.

Roster Changes Already Underway

The Yankees kept Hill but declined Jonathan Loáisiga’s $5 million option. Loáisiga, one of the longest-tenured pitchers in the organization, will now hit free agency.

With Devin Williams and Luke Weaver also headed to the open market, the Yankees will be missing several of last year’s key bullpen arms.

Looking Ahead to the Offseason

Cashman looks set to be aggressive in targeting high-leverage relievers before the November 21 tender deadline. With the bullpen’s current state and the loss of proven contributors, bringing in at least two more late-inning options feels critical for 2026.

The front office will probably hunt for arms who pair well with Hill’s strengths, especially pitchers with dominant splits against right-handers. It’s going to be an interesting offseason—no doubt about that.

What Yankees Fans Can Expect

Fans can count on more roster changes ahead, especially in the bullpen. That group will likely be a major focus well into the offseason.

Hill’s return brings some stability and gives Aaron Boone a postseason-tested arm. Still, if the Yankees want an elite relief corps, Brian Cashman needs to add more talent around Hill instead of leaning on him for everything.

Key Takeaways:

• Tim Hill stays, thanks to a $3 million club option for 2026.
• He posted a 3.09 ERA in 2025 and gets ground balls at an impressive rate.
• In the postseason, Hill’s allowed just one run over two years—pretty clutch.
• There’s a big split in how lefties and righties hit against him.
• The Yankees’ bullpen finished 23rd in ERA for 2025, so an overhaul’s in the works.
• Several veteran relievers are on their way out, leaving room for new faces this winter.

 
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