Yankees Revamp Bullpen With Trades For Pirates’ David Bednar, Giants’ Camilo Doval, Rockies’ Jake Bird

Camilo Doval (Image: Giants)

The New York Yankees have revamped their bullpen. Most notably, the Yankees are set to acquire two-time All-Star closer David Bednar from the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pirates will receive catcher prospects Rafael Flores and Edgleen Perez and outfielder Brian Sanchez.

In a separate trade, the Yankees have acquired righty Jacob Bird from the Colorado Rockies, the team announced. Minor-league infielder Roc Riggio and lefty Ben Shields are going to Colorado in the trade.

And in a third trade, the Yankees are getting former San Francisco Giants closer Camilo Doval, reports the YES Network. Catcher Jesus Rodriguez, righty Trystan Vrieling, first baseman Parks Harbor, and lefty Carlos De La Rosa are the return package for the Giants.

Bednar, 30, has a 2.37 ERA with 51 strikeouts in 38 innings this season, though he pitched so poorly last year and early this year that he was demoted to Triple-A in early April. He has been lights out since being recalled in late April, though: 1.70 ERA with 50 strikeouts in 37 innings, and he’s a perfect 16 for 16 in save chances.

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New York’s bullpen ranks 26th in ERA and 29th in WAR since June 1, even though closer Devin Williams has turned his season around following a poor April. The shaky bullpen is the single biggest reason the Yankees have stumbled out of first place in the AL East into wild card contention.

It remains to be seen how the Yankees will deploy Bednar and Williams, two multi-time All-Star closers who each pitched the seventh and eighth innings earlier this season when they were struggling.

Unlike righty Luke Weaver and Williams, Bednar and Doval will remain under team control in 2026. Either could step right into the closer’s role next year should the other two leave as free agents.

The 29-year-old Bird has pitched to a 4.73 ERA with 62 strikeouts in 53 ⅓ innings this season, though his underlying numbers are quite strong. Both his sweeper and curveball miss bats at an above-average rate. He is under team control through 2028.

Doval, 28, had a 3.09 ERA with 50 strikeouts in 46 ⅔ innings this season.