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NEW YORK – Relief pitchers were flying off the board Wednesday, on the eve of MLB’s trade deadline.
But none of those relievers were headed to the Bronx.
Odds are, up to three new pitchers might be added to the Yankees’ active roster before 6 p.m., Thursday, but manager Aaron Boone was naturally taking the cautious approach.
“I would love for us to be able to add a piece or two on the mound, or in some way shape or form to make us a better club, but you never know,’’ the Yankees manager said Wednesday afternoon.
Seeking options to upgrade the rotation and bullpen, Yankees GM Brian Cashman was with his lieutenants at the Yankees headquarters in Tampa, Fla., where owner Hal Steinbrenner resides.
“I know the boys are in Tampa grinding away at it, having a million conversations,’’ said Boone. “We’ll see. There’s no guarantees.’’
A wild trade deadline day in the Bronx
By Thursday’s 6 p.m. finish line, Yankees GM Brian Cashman swung five trades – netting three relievers (two of them closers), one right-handed hitting speedy utility player and one lottery pick.
“We’re better today than we were yesterday, so mission accomplished there,” Cashman said after adding right-handed relievers David Bednar (the big prize), Camilo Doval and Jake Bird, along with infielder-outfielder Jose Caballero and 18-year-old minor leaguer Wilberson DePena.
The Yankees did not add a starting pitcher, or a lefty reliever. Also, they did not deal any of their highest tier prospects, a list that begins with shortstop George Lombard Jr. and slugging outfielder Spencer Jones.
In all eight deals made since the weekend – including the arrival of third baseman Ryan McMahon, infielder Amed Rosario and outfielder Austin Slater – the Yankees parted with 15 minor leaguers and infielder Oswald Peraza.
Peraza was shipped to the Los Angeles Angels, clearing the way for Caballero. Cashman was able to get Doval from the San Francisco Giants for four prospects, including catcher Jesus Rodriguez.
Outfielder Everson Pereira (No. 12 per MLB Pipeline in the Yanks’ system) went to Tampa Bay in the Caballero deal, which included cash considerations or a player to be named later.
Yankees land right-handed reliever Jake Bird
GM Brian Cashman goes back to the Colorado Rockies, working a deal for righty reliever Jake Bird, as first reported by the YES Network’s Jack Curry.
On Friday, the Yanks landed third baseman Ryan McMahon (who has already paid early dividends) from Colorado, absorbing McMahon’s remaining $16 million annual salary through 2027.
Now, the Yanks get Bird, 29, who enters arbitration after this season with team control through 2028.
The 6-foot-3, 200-pound Bird has swing and miss ability, with 62 strikeouts in 53.1 innings this year, but with a 4.73 ERA (MLB average 100 ERA-plus) with 23 walks and a high 1.481 WHIP.
Per MLB Statcast, Bird features a sweeper, sinker (94.4-mph average), curveball and cutter.
And per MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand, one of the two Yankees prospects going to Colorado is lefty-hitting infielder Roc Riggio, the Yankees No. 10 prospect per MLB Pipeline.
Yankees’ No. 28 prospect, lefty Ben Shields, is also headed to Colorado for Bird.
What’s next for the Yankees?
With about two hours left before the MLB trade deadline expires, there are some interesting starting pitching options still potentially out there.
On the rental side, one of Arizona’s pending free agent right-handers Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly (Kelly specifically) could really help the Yanks.
On the expensive (and even more-expensive side) are Miami’s Sandy Alcantara and Edward Cabrera.
But if the Yanks pulled down any one from this quartet, and a lefty reliever like Minnesota’s Danny Coulombe, this would be a very good deadline day in the Bronx.
The price in high-end Yankees prospects is going to be high, and so far, the best player they’ve parted with is top catching prospect Rafael Flores (as first reported by FanSided’s Robert Murray, in the David Bednar trade), ranked No. 8 in the organization by MLB Pipeline.
Yankees make a deal for David Bednar
That’s a big arm the Yankees just landed, for this year and 2026.
David Bednar, 30, in the closer’s role deepens the Yankees’ bullpen, probably putting Devin Williams back in a setup role with multi-inning weapon Luke Weaver.
Plus, the 6-foot-1, 25-pound Bednar (2.37 ERA, 51 Ks, 38 IP) settles the Yankees’ closer spot for 2026, as both Williams and Weaver are headed to free agency this fall.
Agreement on the trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates was first reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan, pending the medicals. FanSided’s Robert Murray reported that Yankees’ top catching prospect Rafael Flores is part of the deal.
Flores is ranked No. 8 among the Yankees’ prospects per MLB Pipeline, and the Yanks are yet again parting with another highly regarded receiver, but that’s part of the price of adding a controllable, proven closer.
The Yanks are still hunting for a starter and a lefty reliever before the 6 p.m. deadline.
Mason Miller goes to San Diego
The price, per USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, was Padres’ prized shortstop prospect Leodalis DeVries (No. 3 overall via MLB Pipeline) and three other prospects, including San Diego’s No. 3 ranked prospect, RHP Branden Nett.
That’s quite a prospect haul going to the Athletics for the electric righty reliever, and perhaps no other GM in baseball but San Diego’s A.J. Preller could’ve pulled off such a deal.
So, the most prized bullpen arm of this period has been moved, and the Yankees have already watched several impact relievers sail off the board.
David Bednar (Pirates) and Griffin Jax (Twins) might be the best available right-handed relievers in this market, and the Twins might not be inclined to move Jax after sending controllable closer Jhoan Duran to the Phillies.
Now, what’s the price on Padres’ starter Dylan Cease and is San Diego closer Robert Suarez now available?
A look at Yankees’ bullpen situation
Though the Yankees have acted cautiously so far, there exists the possibility to go big for controllable pitching.
On the bullpen side, consider that the Yankees don’t have the assurance of a closer beyond this year, with pending free agent Devin Williams unlikely to return in 2026.
Luke Weaver is also a pending free agent, and the gifted but enigmatic and injury-prone Jonathan Loaisiga can’t be counted upon to ascend to that essential role.
Perhaps that drives the Yankees toward spending prime prospects to land the Athletics’ Mason Miller*, but the right-hander might be the exception.
Jhoan Duran, with two more seasons of control, could’ve helped the Yanks beyond 2025, but the Twins traded him to the Phillies.
*Miller was traded to the San Diego Padres, with a prospect haul going to the Athletics on Thursday morning.
Pirates’ closer David Bednar is a free agent after the 2026 season, but if the Yanks balked at the price for Duran, the ask for Bednar might be a non-starter.
The Yankees should get Fernando Cruz, Mark Leiter Jr. and lefty Ryan Yarbrough back in the next few weeks, and lefty Brent Headrick has been impressive lately.
UPDATE: Leiter is due back during the Aug. 4-6 series at Texas, per Boone.
But they’re still likely to upgrade by at least two relievers, with right-handers Raisel Iglesias (Braves), Pierce Johnson (Braves), Kyle Finnegan (Nationals), Kenley Jansen (Angels), Phil Maton (Cardinals) and Griffin Jax (Twins) still in play as of midnight.
And that’s along with lefties Danny Coulombe (Twins), Jalen Beeks (Diamondbacks) and Taylor Rogers (Pirates).
Examining Yankees’ pursuit for starting rotation boost
Sure, the price is sky high on Joe Ryan (Twins), Mitch Keller (Pirates) and Edward Cabrera (Marlins), who reportedly might stay put through this period.
But Arizona free agent walk year starters Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly are in play, with Kelly as potentially the better Bronx fit, and vets Charlie Morton (Orioles) and Adrian Houser (White Sox) assuredly on the move.
Shaky since his comeback from elbow surgery, Sandy Alcantara (Marlins) has built back some trade value lately and is controllable through 2027.
Luis Gil (lat strain) is due to return to the Yanks’ rotation Sunday at Miami, and Will Warren has earned a rotation spot, with rookie Cam Schlittler a potential late-season bullpen candidate with his high-octane fastball.
But the Yanks need additional starting depth, arguably one they’d trust in a playoff start beyond Max Fried, Carlos Rodon and Gil (as long as he’s the first-half 2024 version).
Padres’ impending free agent Dylan Cease is linked to trade discussions and San Diego GM A.J. Preller (might he also deal closer Robert Suarez?) is as bold as any exec at such times, with a pretty good knowledge of the Yankees’ system since the Juan Soto deal.
