Insider Applauds Yankees’ Quiet but Savvy Deadline Plan

Jeff Passan didn’t hand the Yankees a trophy at the trade deadline. What he gave them was something more grounded: credit for understanding the assignment.

In his ESPN column, Passan awarded the Yankees and Mets his “October Is for Relievers” recognition—not because their moves dazzled in the short term, but because they addressed what matters most when the calendar flips to fall.

No, the Yankees didn’t land a blockbuster bat or headline-making starter. And yes, David Bednar, Camilo Doval, and Jake Bird all stumbled out of the gate. That ugly sweep in Miami underscored how raw and rushed the bullpen retooling still looks.

 But Passan’s larger point is smart. The Yankees are playing the long game and playing it smart.

Over the past few postseasons, Passan pointed out, starters have thrown fewer and fewer innings. In October, relievers aren’t there to mop up innings; they carry teams. Passan points out that relievers now account for nearly half of all postseason innings. It’s a high-leverage chess match, and the Yankees made sure they’ve got pieces to play with.

Acquiring Bednar and Doval, both closers with power stuff and club control, signals more than a panic patch. The Yankees are in an arms race and they are going in fully loaded. It's also a hedge against their 2025 injury toll, with Mark Leiter Jr., Fernando Cruz and Ryan Yarbrough on the injured list. 

Other contenders saw it too. Detroit bulked up its bullpen. Houston is already elite. Boston surged past New York behind its late-game arms. The Yankees had no choice but to keep pace.

This wasn’t a splashy deadline. It wasn’t supposed to be. But if the Yankees find themselves in a tight playoff game two months from now, and one of those newly acquired arms slams the door?

That’s the win they’re playing for.