Pirates Acquire Justin Lawrence to Strengthen 2026 Bullpen

The 2025 MLB season has seen notable bullpen moves across several teams. The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired right-hander Justin Lawrence from the Colorado Rockies, and early signs indicate he could be a key high-leverage arm with impressive pitching metrics and velocity from a unique arm slot. Meanwhile, the Kansas City Royals strengthened their roster at the trade deadline by adding several pitchers and position players, but an under-the-radar 2024 acquisition, Hunter Harvey, may prove to be their biggest bullpen asset if he stays healthy, as he has performed well in limited 2025 appearances. Contrastingly, the New York Yankees struggled with reliever Jake Bird, who after a poor start was sent down to Triple-A, highlighting ongoing bullpen issues despite trade deadline reinforcements. These developments underscore the critical roles bullpen acquisitions and performances are playing in shaping teams' fortunes this season.