MLB's trade deadline came to a close Thursday at 6 p.m.
NEW YORK – Out to improve their pitching, Thursday’s MLB trade deadline took the Yankees on a unique path.
They tripled down on controllable, high-end relievers – chiefly David Bednar and Camilo Doval - without obtaining a starter or a lefty bullpen arm.
And they spent from their system’s depth without trading any top-tier prospects for proven big-league talent, and that includes their kickoff deal last Saturday for third baseman Ryan McMahon.
“I think we addressed a lot of areas of need to try to give us the best shot’’ to win, said Yankees GM Brian Cashman, after a head-spinning finish to Thursday’s activity.
Cashman’s five-trade haul also netted reliever Jake Bird and the speedy utility player Jose Caballero, at a cost of 15 prospects and one expendable big-leaguer in Oswald Peraza.
“I know we improved ourselves,’’ Cashman said via conference call from Tampa, Fla., after the Yankees’ third straight win, 7-4, over the Rays at Yankee Stadium. “I know we’re better.’’
Yankees upgrade their bullpen
A Yankees’ bullpen, with an ERA over 6.00 since July 1, needed difference-making additions.
In Bednar, the Yankees have a closer with an elite 33.1 percent strikeout rate, while Doval and Bird provide both swing-and-miss and strong groundball rates.
Ahead of Friday night’s series in Miami, the Yankees have optioned Yerry de los Santos (3 scoreless relief innings Thursday) and the underperforming Ian Hamilton to clear roster space.
Both Bednar (Pirates) and Doval (Giants) have come back from shaky 2024 seasons to reclaim closer spots, but manager Aaron Boone gave a vote of confidence to Devin Williams.
“I feel like, in Devin, we have a great closer,’’ said Boone, but adding “we’ll talk through all that’’ as to the pecking order of his end-game relievers.
“The reality is, we have a number of guys more than capable of getting the final three outs,’’ said Boone, which includes Luke Weaver. “So, we’ll see as we go and kind of match that up.’’
In 2026, his free agent walk year, Bednar could freely assume the closer’s spot, with Williams and Weaver free agents after this season.
Currently, Mark Leiter Jr. (leg stress fracture) could be ready for activation by next week, and the valuable Fernando Cruz (strained oblique) should be ready later this month, adding bullpen strength.
Boone expects his new trio of Bednar, Doval and Bird (Rockies) to be available Friday night against the Marlins.
“Let’s get them all there and have those conversations,’’ Boone said of their lanes. “We feel we have some real depth down there now.’’
What the Yankees didn’t do at the deadline
Per the Yanks’ volume of trades for relievers, it was easier to find matches.
On the rotation front, the Yankees seemed to be inquiring not for depth but for impact, and those prices proved too steep.
“We certainly knocked on many doors,’’ Cashman said of his search for starters, but the Yanks were “not able to match up in that category.’’
Cashman wouldn’t directly address any effort to lure Miami’s controllable Sandy Alcantara or Edward Cabrera, or Arizona’s rentals Merrill Kelly (acquired by Texas) or Zac Gallen.
“More than anything, it’s about the quality of the player we had interest in,’’ said Cashman, regardless of rental or control.
That’s leaves Will Warren, Cam Schlittler and Marcus Stroman in the rotation but someone will be bumped for Luis Gil, due off the injured list next week.
It won’t be Warren; Schlittler could be optioned and Stroman, once more, doesn’t figure in playoff plans.
As to the absence of acquiring a lefty relief complement to veteran Tim Hill, the Yanks can point to the profile of the trio they imported – plus the returns of Leiter Jr. and Cruz – as reasons to pass on the likes of Danny Coulombe (also acquired by Texas) and Taylor Rogers (acquired by the Cubs).
Yankees keep their elite prospects
At this deadline, the Yankees’ most prized minor leaguers stayed put.
When the trade dust settled, the highest-rated prospect – per MLB Pipeline – moved by the Yankees was catcher Rafael Flores (No. 8), in the Bednar deal.
The organization’s top prospect, shortstop George Lombard Jr., wasn’t going anywhere. Neither was slugging lefty-hitting outfielder Spencer Jones, or pitcher Carlos Lagrange, or even Schlittler or Warren – at least not this time.
“We were trying to stay away from (trading) certain guys more than others,’’ Cashman said of his elite tier. “But we also recognize you have to give to get.’’
For the impact relievers the Yanks did get at the deadline, credit an assist to scouting director Damon Oppenheimer and his scouts for stocking the system.
And the Yanks’ penchant for producing catchers – and dealing them away – came into play again, with three receivers moved on Thursday.
Yankees improve on the margins
After acquiring right-handed hitting outfielder Austin Slater (White Sox) and utility player Amed Rosario (Nationals), Cashman sought a right-handed hitting upgrade over Peraza.
Caballero can handle shortstop, third base and second base, as well as the corner outfield spots, and he’s leading the AL with 34 stolen bases.
“I just like the flexibility he provides more than Peraza,’’ said Cashman, who didn’t acquire Caballero as Anthony Volpe insurance at shortstop but as a defensively versatile reserve and a dangerous pinch-runner.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: New York Yankees at MLB trade deadline: Analysis of their deals
Category: Baseball
