The Yankees attempted to extinguish a fire in their bullpen, but somehow ended up pouring gasoline on it instead.
Yankees Trade Deadline Overhaul Turns Into a Meltdown
Let’s break this down. At the trade deadline, Yankees GM Brian Cashman went shopping for arms like a guy buying fire extinguishers during a five-alarm blaze. He brought in David Bednar, Camilo Doval, and Jake Bird — three names that should have bolstered a bullpen that had been leaking runs like a sinking ship. But instead of shoring things up, the new additions only added more cracks to the hull.
Since August 1 — just one day after the trade deadline — the Yankees bullpen has posted a stomach-turning 5.57 ERA. That’s not just bad, folks. That’s the third-worst in the entire league, bad. Before the deadline? A somewhat manageable 4.19 ERA. Now? 4.54 and climbing. Yikes.
And while Bednar has been solid (a 2.70 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 16.2 innings), the real problem is that the Yankees can’t seem to get the ball to him. You can’t save a game that’s already been torched by the seventh inning.
Jake Bird Bombs, Doval Disappoints
Let’s talk about Jake Bird. His Yankees debut lasted all of two innings — and he gave up six runs. That performance earned him a ticket to Triple-A, where things haven’t exactly turned around. He’s sporting a 7.15 ERA down there. That’s not just struggling — that’s spiraling out of control.
Camilo Doval? You might’ve heard that name and thought, “Hey, he’s a flamethrower, right?” Right, but the only thing he’s been burning is his ERA, which has ballooned to 6.59. He’s walked nine guys and given up 18 hits in just 13.2 innings. That’s a recipe for disaster in October baseball.
And it doesn’t stop there. Over the last two games alone, five Yankee relievers — Doval, Fernando Cruz, Mark Leiter Jr., Tim Hill, and Luke Weaver — served up 18 earned runs to the Tigers. The Tigers! This wasn’t against the Astros or Dodgers. Detroit’s offense isn’t exactly known for lighting it up, yet here we are.
In the first game of that series, Cruz and Leiter couldn’t even record a single out while allowing nine runs. That’s not a bullpen collapse. That’s a complete implosion.
Playoff Hopes at Risk With Only One Reliable Arm
And let’s not forget former closer Devin Williams, whose 5.50 ERA somehow looks average next to the rest of this disaster crew. He’s one of four Yankees relievers with an ERA north of 5.30. That’s not just a problem — that’s a liability with October looming.
Now, sure, the Yankees are 80-65 and look poised for a postseason berth. But let’s be real: if this bullpen continues on its current trajectory, the only thing New York will be winning in October is a participation trophy. You can’t win playoff games without a reliable bullpen — and right now, Bednar’s the only guy keeping this thing from total collapse.
So yeah, Cashman made some moves. But right now? It looks like the Yankees didn’t fix the problem — they just gave it new names.
