Yankees Ranked MLB’s Most Desperate Team for Bullpen Help

Well, there was no denying it really. The New York Yankees bullpen has been a mess this past month, and Monday, The Athletic made it official. They put the Yankees No. 1 on their list of most desperate teams in need of bullpen help ahead of Thursday’s MLB trade deadline.

And after the last few weeks, the Yankees earned that dishonor. 

New York’s bullpen has cratered in July, posting a 7.10 ERA, second-worst in the league, and a minus-1.9 Win Probability Added, per The Athletic’s report. That includes Friday’s 10-run meltdown, a bullpen implosion that doubled as a distress signal to the front office.

With the rotation still treading water, Aaron Judge out with a curious elbow issue, and the Yankees clinging to postseason position, the bullpen has officially become their biggest liability.

Right now, only three relievers appear to have the trust of manager Aaron Boone: Devin Williams, Luke Weaver, and Tim Hill. And Weaver has been inconsistent since coming back from a hamstring injury. Both Williams and Weaver are impending free agents, which adds urgency to add long-term stability.

The Athletic suggests the Yankees could be shopping at the top of the relief market, potentially targeting a high-leverage arm under control beyond 2025. That could steer them toward names like Ryan Helsley, Jhoan Duran, or even Mason Miller if Oakland is willing to talk.

The Yankees have the prospect capital to get something done. But with the bullpen burning through games and options, the question isn’t whether the Yankees will make a move—it’s whether they’ll go big enough, soon enough, to stop the bleeding.

For a front office known for measured moves, the clock may be forcing Brian Cashman into bolder territory.