Yankees Make Deadline Splash, Snag Bednar, Bird and Doval

Trade Deadline Day is the annual day of chaos on MLB’s calendar. And this year, with the Yankees in desperate need of bullpen help, the Bombers swung and reeled in three major relief arms. 

David Bednar (formerly the Pirates’ Closer), Jake Bird (formerly one of the Rockies’ relievers) and Camilo Doval (formerly the Giants’ Closer) were brought in. 3B Ryan McMahon, IF/OF Amed Rosario and OF Austin Slater were also acquired in the days leading up to the deadline.

The prospects who were shipped out include: RHP Clayton Beeter, CF Browm Martinez, RHP Josh Grosz, LHP Griffin Herring, C/1B Rafael Flores, C Edgleen Perez, OF Brian Sanchez, 2B Roc Riggio, LHP Ben Shields, RHP Gage Ziegl, RHP Carlos Carrasco, Jesus Rodriguez, Parks Harber, Trystan Vrieling, OF Everson Pereira, a player to be named later and one other player. 

Bednar, 30, had 17 saves, a 2.37 ERA and a SO/9 of 12.1 while with Pittsburgh. His acquisition gives the Yankees three legitimate closing options at the backend of their bullpen, along with Devin Williams and Luke Weaver. 

Bird, 29, had 62 strikeouts in 53.1 innings and a groundball rate of 46.6% while with Colorado and was one of the Rockies’ rare pitchers to perform better at Coors Field than on the road. His acquisition gives the Bombers another option to get out of jams before turning things over to their top arms. 

Doval, 28, had 15 saves and a 3.09 ERA in 46.2 innings with San Francisco. He’s also a very hard thrower, which gives the Yankees flexibility with how to use him.

With those moves, New York radically improved its bullpen, added much better defense at third base and gave Manager Aaron Boone some more bench options to shuffle around. 

Then, moments before the deadline, they received INF Jose Caballero from the Rays in exchange for OF Everson Pereira and a player to be named later. Caballero is currently tied for the Major League lead with 34 stolen bases, so he adds another dimension to New York’s offense.