Yankees Bolster Bullpen, Add Six Players in Deadline Trades

The New York Yankees significantly bolstered their bullpen at the 2025 MLB trade deadline by acquiring top relievers David Bednar, Jake Bird, and Anthony Doval, aiming to address a bullpen that had a 4.24 ERA entering the deadline. Bednar, a highly sought-after reliever with a 2.37 ERA and strong strikeout metrics, was acquired from the Pirates in exchange for three prospects, including catching prospect Rafael Flores, marking both a short-term and long-term investment. Jake Bird, acquired from Colorado, offers upside potential with promising underlying metrics despite a higher ERA, and Doval was obtained from the Giants to add depth. These moves led to the Yankees optioning some injured pitchers to AAA and reshaped their bullpen into a potential strength for the playoff push. Meanwhile, other MLB teams like the Padres and Mets also made substantial bullpen upgrades, with the Padres making a blockbuster trade for Mason Miller and JP Sears, and the Mets adding diverse relievers Gregory Soto, Tyler Rogers, and Ryan Helsley to improve their bullpen dynamics. The Yankees' aggressive deadline strategy reflects a commitment to solidifying their pitching staff for the remainder of the season.