Since the season kicked off in San Francisco on March 25, there was an understanding that the Yankees would likely need to bolster their bullpen as the trade deadline approached.
Now, with that deadline looming in less than two weeks, the Yankees found themselves, just Tuesday, with the second-lowest bullpen ERA in the league, even though their game against the Pirates was postponed due to storm concerns.
Things haven’t always appeared so positive. A 3.09 ERA—just slightly better than the improving Red Sox—won’t really convince anyone that they shouldn’t look for more relief options.
However, whatever Brian Cashman manages to acquire before August 3, whether it’s something high-profile like Padres closer Mason Miller or a collection of relievers from previous deadlines, the Yankees have managed to build a sturdy baseline internally.
David Bednar, one of three relief pitchers Cashman picked up by the last deadline—though the other two didn’t quite solve the issue—has delivered 17 consecutive scoreless innings, including five outings that lasted three or more outs.
Left-hander Brent Headrick has emerged as a standout, ranking in the top 10 for both ERA (1.43) and fWAR (1.4), with a shutout performance in 42 of 50 games, which leads the majors.
Fernando Cruz has also made waves, tackling 31 of 36 runners before escaping tough situations. Paul Blackburn transitioned to full-time relief with a 2.08 ERA and is climbing into critical game situations. Tim Hill continues to pose challenges for left-handed hitters, though he has had some recent struggles.
Additionally, Angel Civilli has begun to show promise, looking like a potential option, though the sample size is still quite small.
Thanks to all these contributions, the Yankees’ bullpen boasts a major league-best 2.32 ERA over the last 40 games since June 3, limiting opponents to a mere .188 batting average during that stretch.
“It’s a really tight-knit group over there,” Bednar said recently. “Everyone’s pulling for each other, which makes it enjoyable to be part of.”
However, despite this recent surge, it doesn’t mean the Yankees shouldn’t pursue another trustworthy relief option or two before the deadline. Improving their strikeouts and velocity is still essential; their current strikeout rate of 22.5 percent ranks only 16th in the majors, while their average fastball velocity of 93.8 mph sits at 26th, according to Statcast.
There are ongoing concerns with Camilo Doval and Jake Bird—two relievers who joined Bednar last summer. Bird is back in Triple-A, while Doval may find himself sidelined in crucial moments if the Yankees strengthen their roster in the coming weeks.
Yet, a cast of pitchers with some uncertainties who are performing well means the Yankees don’t need an extensive overhaul of the bullpen as they did—or at least tried to do—last summer.
Initially facing scrutiny over their bullpen after a rough start, questions arose about whether the Yankees also had a closer issue. After pitching in the WBC, Bednar opened with a 5.14 ERA over his first 21 games, but he hasn’t allowed a run since, keeping batters to a .103 batting average and 22 strikeouts across his streak of scoreless innings.
“He’s quite dominant and really understands his game,” manager Aaron Boone noted. “He’s the person you want leading the bullpen culture.”
Boone continued, expressing admiration for Bednar as not just a talented pitcher but also a fierce competitor and an excellent teammate. “There’s no ego. It’s all about winning. We have many players like that in our clubhouse, and Bed is a key one. I love what he brings and the example he sets. Winning is his clear priority.”
