Yankees Make Moves Before Trade Deadline
The Yankees have finally addressed some of their bullpen struggles. Before the trade deadline passed on Thursday, they revamped their relief options by acquiring David Bednar from the Pirates, Camilo Doval from the Giants, and Jake Bird from the Rockies. This trio targets the team’s most pressing weaknesses.
Additionally, they picked up utility player José Caballero from the Rays to enhance their bench depth and speed, sending Oswald Peraza to the Angels in the process.
Interestingly, adding a starting pitcher wasn’t part of the plan, despite GM Brian Cashman having checked out several options. He mentioned that he “knocked on a lot of doors” but couldn’t find a match.
As the Yankees gear up for the final two months of the season, they’re looking to close a 3½ game gap in the AL East. They’ve struggled recently, finishing with a disappointing 16-24 record over their last 40 games leading up to Thursday’s win.
“I think we had a good team,” Cashman noted during a conference call. “It’s tough when a good team isn’t performing. But with these changes, we have a new chance to do better. It was essential to find ways to improve.”
The most significant enhancement is in the bullpen, where the new additions join Devin Williams, setup man Luke Weaver, and Tim Hill. This combination could provide much-needed support.
Aaron Boone emphasized that Williams was already a solid option, but now he has even stronger resources to navigate tight games in the latter innings.
“Shortening the game has been a challenge for us lately,” Boone remarked. “Now we have some powerful arms to go along with our existing talent.”
All three relievers the Yankees acquired are under team control beyond this season—Doval until 2027 and Bird until 2028. This is noteworthy given that Williams and Weaver will enter free agency this offseason.
Entering Thursday’s game, the Yankees’ bullpen had a 4.24 ERA, ranking 21st in the majors, and had an even higher 6.29 ERA since July 1st, one of the worst in baseball.
With the prices of top-tier bullpen arms soaring, the Yankees made some sacrifices, including giving up three prospects for Bednar, including notable catcher Rafael Flores. They also traded infielder Roc Riggio and lefty Ben Shields for Bird.
In Caballero’s case, the trade involved outfield prospect Everson Pereira along with some cash. The 30-year-old Bednar had a standout All-Star year in 2024 and performed well after being sent to Triple-A earlier this season, with a 2.37 ERA, 17 saves, and 51 strikeouts over 38 innings.
Meanwhile, 28-year-old Doval, a former All-Star, has a 3.09 ERA with 15 saves and 50 strikeouts in 46⅔ innings. Bird, at 29, has a 4.73 ERA with 62 strikeouts in 53⅓ innings this season.
“I think it’s definitely better today. They’re three incredible pitchers,” Williams commented. “Boone has a lot of options now—it’s hard to go wrong.”
