Yankees Revamp Bullpen with David Bednar, Camilo Doval, and Jake Bird

By Oliver Wiener August 04, 2025 12:56

The New York Yankees have made significant moves to revamp their bullpen, acquiring veteran relievers David Bednar, Camilo Doval, and Jake Bird in rapid succession just before the trade deadline. These strategic additions aim to strengthen a bullpen that, before these trades, ranked mid-tier in effectiveness but now projects to be among the elite in Major League Baseball.

David Bednar, acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for three minor league prospects, has been a consistent force out of the bullpen. At 30 years old, Bednar boasts a 2.37 ERA and sixteen saves across 42 appearances this season, striking out 51 batters while issuing just 10 walks in 38 innings. Known for his two-time All-Star pedigree and refined command, Bednar’s presence brings a shutdown mentality to the Yankees’ relief corps. “Acquiring David gives us a proven closer with playoff experience, and his control and velocity make him a formidable weapon late in games,” Yankees GM Brian Cashman remarked.

The Yankees didn’t stop there. They also secured right-handed reliever Jake Bird from the Colorado Rockies. Bird, 29, has demonstrated promising strikeout ability with nearly 11 strikeouts per nine innings this season, despite a higher 4.73 ERA. His career peripherals paint a more favorable picture with a 3.45 FIP, suggesting better results than the ERA implies. As a versatile bullpen arm capable of eating innings, Bird fills an important role for New York’s pen depth. “Jake is a big-league tested reliever with swing-and-miss stuff,” said pitching coach Matt Blake. “We feel he fits perfectly in our late-inning mix.”

The headline acquisition could be closer Camilo Doval, obtained in a trade with the San Francisco Giants involving three prospects. Doval’s youth and upside excite Yankees fans, with the hard-throwing right-hander posting a solid 3.58 ERA with a 115 ERA+ over 66 appearances this season, complementing that with strong strikeout numbers and only 5 home runs allowed in over 65 innings pitched. Crucially, Doval is under team control for two more years beyond this season, providing the Yankees not just bullpen strength but long-term stability.

These three additions have dramatically improved Yankees bullpen projections. Before the trade deadline, FanGraphs’ ZiPS projection system ranked the Yankees bullpen 17th overall, but with Bednar, Bird, and Doval joining, their projected ranking jumps to third in the league. This boost enhances the team’s playoff prospects, especially considering the importance of a dominant bullpen in today’s postseason.

However, the new trio hasn’t been flawless immediately. Early outings saw some struggles, including runs allowed and a blown save by Doval, pointing to normal adjustment periods after a midseason trade. Despite initial stumbles, the overall consensus remains optimistic about what this trio will provide.

As one fan on social media summed it up, “Oh my goodness. What a day to be a Yankees fan! Went from a garbage bullpen to nearly half a top-notch one in just a few hours”. Yankees manager Aaron Boone echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the importance of reliable arms coming out of the bullpen in tight games, especially during playoff races.

The Yankees’ bullpen revamp with Bednar, Doval, and Bird is a calculated effort to bolster late-inning pitching strength as they push toward postseason contention. With a blend of proven experience, strikeout ability, and controlled youth, New York’s relief staff suddenly looks like one of the best values in baseball. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how these arms mesh with the existing bullpen pieces, but the groundwork for a dominant relief corps has been laid.