CHICAGO – The Chicago White Sox have agreed to terms on a one-year, $1.8-million contract with left-handed relief pitcher Tim Hill and designated right-hander Declan Cronin for assignment.
Hill, 33, spent last season with San Diego, going 1-4 with a 5.48 ERA (27 ER/44.1 IP), nine holds and 26 strikeouts in 48 relief appearances. He posted a 3.72 ERA (16 ER/38.2 IP) over 40 games in the first half before missing most of the second half with a sprained left finger that required surgery on September 20.
Hill, 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, has gone 16-14 with a 4.16 ERA (118 ER/255.1 IP), 208 strikeouts and 60 holds in 320 relief appearances over six major-league seasons with Kansas City (2018-19) and the Padres (2020-23). He ranks sixth among MLB left-handers with 320 games since 2018, including a career-high 78 with San Diego in 2021 when he finished second in the National League. Hill has limited lefties to a career .223/.302/.304 (99-444) slash line with seven home runs allowed.
Hill, a native of Mission Hills, Calif, originally was selected by Kansas City in the 32nd round of the 2014 draft. He was traded by the Royals to San Diego on July 16, 2020 in exchange for outfielder Franchy Cordero and pitcher Ronald Bolaños. Hill made six postseason appearances with the Padres in 2020 and 2022, allowing just two hits over 5.0 scoreless IP.
Cronin, 26, spent most of the 2023 season with Class AAA Charlotte, going 3-0 with a 3.83 ERA (22 ER/51.2 IP) and 42 strikeouts over 47 appearances. He also made his major-league debut with the White Sox, going 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA (11 ER11.0 IP) and eight strikeouts in nine outings.
The White Sox 40-man roster remains at 40.
White Sox agree to terms with pitcher Tim Hill; designate Declan Cronin for assignment
