With Trade Odds Rising, Yankees Linked to Closer Ryan Helsley

The Yankees aren’t just kicking the tires on bullpen help. They’re launching a full-scale scouting operation.

According to ESPN’s Jesse Rogers, New York has “resources deployed throughout the league” as they search for relief arms ahead of the July 31 trade deadline. If there’s a closer or setup man believed to be available, the Yankees are watching — and in some cases, already engaging.

“Think Ryan Helsley,” Rogers wrote, “and work down from there.”

It’s a sign of how seriously the Yankees are taking their late-game pitching needs. While the bullpen has held together for most of the season, injuries and overuse are starting to show. Clay Holmes has been asked to shoulder a heavy load, and the bridge to the ninth has become shakier over the last month.

The Yankees are reportedly casting a wide net, targeting everyone from elite closers to middle relief depth. That includes power righties like Helsley and Kyle Finnegan, and possible lefty upgrades such as Danny Coulombe or Brooks Raley.

They’ve also been linked to Tampa Bay’s Pete Fairbanks and Garrett Cleavinger. In-division trades tend to come with complications and a tax.

Helsley has continued to deliver elite production in 2025: across 36 relief appearances, he’s logged a 3.00 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 41 strikeouts in 36 innings, and 21 saves, ranking 10th in MLB in saves.

The Yankees have watched too many Octobers slip away because of unreliable relief. They know playoff games are won in the sixth through ninth innings, so they are bulking up the back end of the bullpen.

When Fernando Cruz and Mark Leiter Jr. back from the injured list and they can pair with another premier, high-leverage reliever as well as Luke Weaver and Devin Williams, the Yankees will have good options to end games.

The big question, as always, is cost.

The relief market is expensive, especially for pitchers with team control and swing-and-miss stuff. But this is one area where the Yankees may be willing to push in.

Look for Brian Cashman to stay aggressive. The Yankees want arms — and they’re not being shy about it.