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NY Mets rumors: Yankees free agent interest would be a massive misfire

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ByTim Boyle
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Sep 20, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Tim Hill (41) throws a pitch during the sixth inning against the New York Yankees at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Arianna Grainey-Imagn Images
Sep 20, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Tim Hill (41) throws a pitch during the sixth inning against the New York Yankees at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Arianna Grainey-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

According to The Athletic’s Will Sammon, the New York Mets are considering a couple of different left-handed reliever options. He notes how Los Angeles Dodgers free agent Alex Vesia has drawn their attention along with more than half of the rest of the league. They’re also considering New York Yankees reliever Tim Hill, a much less desirable option by pretty much every standard.

Hill isn’t coming off of a sensational season, posting a 4.60 ERA in 58.2 innings. Far better in the previous two seasons, the 36-year-old feels a little too much like bargain shopping when the Mets’ focus should be on at least the middle shelf, if not higher.

Nate Lavender had a promising rookie year for the Mets in 2026. So much so, he should be considered a candidate to become a top lefty in the bullpen by the end of 2027. That optimism shouldn’t have them going with a lesser lefty partner for him. Hill would be that kind of player.

The Mets might be just better off keeping Cionel Perez than wasting time with Tim Hill

It’s only a projection and they’re always wrong, but FanGraphs helps prove a point. Hill is projected to have a 4.25 ERA with only a 12.4% strikeout rate. He is very much not a strikeout pitcher and considering some of the questions the Mets defense had last season with minor changes at the most coming, a ground ball focused arm like him could be doomed before he even steps on the field.

Perez has been a ground ball-centric arm in the past. FanGraphs projects him to have a 3.56 ERA with a 23% strikeout rate. His 3.99 ERA in 29.1 innings for the Mets this past year was promising and enough to at least consider letting him occupy a 40-man roster spot. He pitched with great control (2.5 BB/9) and punched out batters at a high rate 10.7 K/9).

In addition to Vesia and Hill, the team has checked in on old friend Brooks Raley. Ideal because of familiarity but also his capability of rising or falling on the depth chart, he’s the easy selection to make that might not improve the team but also won’t make them worse.

Bullpen help, specifically a lefty, is on the Mets’ offseason wish list. Lavender definitely seems like a factor next year with the capability of also demoting him if needed thanks to his options. Perez is more iffy yet a good arm to bring into camp in case of injury. There’s nothing in the rulebook about holding onto three lefties either. Perez will already be on a short leash. Hill, if he lands with the Mets, would need to be on one too. It would have potential to be Luis Garcia all over again.

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