The White Sox signed left-handed reliever Tim Hill to a one-year, $1.8 million contract Thursday. To make room on the 40-man roster, right-handed reliever Declan Cronin was designated for assignment.
Hill, 33, pitched to a 5.48 ERA in 48 appearances for the Padres last season and was non-tendered after four seasons in San Diego. He owned ERAs of 3.62 and 3.56 in 2021 and ’22, respectively, and has also seen his strikeout rates dip the past two seasons, coinciding with the higher ERA and WHIP (1.647) last season.
In 320 appearances over six seasons with the Royals and Padres, Hill, a submarine-style southpaw, owns a 4.16 ERA. Lefty batters own a .223/.302/.304 hitting line over Hill’s career.
The Sox traded their top lefty reliever, Aaron Bummer, to the Braves for five players this offseason. They have hard-throwing lefty Garrett Crochet to complement Hill’s style from the left side, with lefty relievers Tanner Banks, Sammy Peralta and Rule 5 draftee Shane Drohan also on the 40-man roster.
Hill was the Padres nominee for the 2023 Roberto Clemente Award.
Cronin, 26, posted a 3.83 ERA over 47 appearances for Triple-A Charlotte. He allowed 11 earned runs over 11 innings with the Sox.
