The New York Yankees have made significant moves to improve their bullpen by acquiring closer Camilo Doval, two-time All-Star David Bednar, and right-handed pitcher Jacob Bird. These trades, finalized in early July 2024, are designed to address their late-inning struggles and deepen their relief pitching corps as they chase a playoff spot in the AL East. The focus keyword, Camilo Doval Yankees trade, highlights the center of these roster updates, which took place across multiple deals with the Pittsburgh Pirates, San Francisco Giants, and Colorado Rockies.

Details of Each Trade Boosting New York’s Relief Staff

To obtain David Bednar from the Pirates, the Yankees sent catcher prospects Rafael Flores and Edgleen Perez, along with outfielder Brian Sanchez, to Pittsburgh. Bednar has showcased an outstanding turnaround this season with a 1.70 ERA and a perfect 16-for-16 save record since late April, despite a shaky start that led to a brief demotion to Triple-A. Meanwhile, the Colorado Rockies traded Jacob Bird to New York in exchange for minor-league infielder Roc Riggio and left-hander Ben Shields. Bird, 29, has posted a 4.73 ERA in 53 ⅓ innings this year, supported by strong underlying metrics thanks to effective sweeper and curveball pitches.

In their most notable deal, the Yankees acquired Camilo Doval from the San Francisco Giants, sending catcher Jesus Rodriguez, right-hander Trystan Vrieling, first baseman Parks Harbor, and lefty Carlos De La Rosa in return. Doval, 28, has recorded a 3.09 ERA with 50 strikeouts over 46 ⅔ innings in 2024, adding valuable experience and depth to the Yankees’ bullpen.

Current State of Yankees’ Bullpen and Roster Strategy

New York’s bullpen has ranked near the bottom of the league since June 1, placing 26th in ERA and 29th in WAR, which has been a key factor in their slide from leading the AL East to battling for the wild card. Closer Devin Williams has improved after a difficult start to the season, but the team’s recent acquisitions aim to stabilize late-inning relief with reliable arms.

The Yankees’ likely relief lineup now includes a closer role that could be shared between Bednar and Williams, a setup group featuring Luke Weaver, Doval, and either Bednar or Williams, and middle-inning duties for Bird alongside Tim Hill and Jonathan Loáisiga. JT Brubaker will be used for long relief, while other pitchers like Yerry De Los Santos, Scott Effross, Ian Hamilton, and Brent Headrick provide bullpen depth. Injured pitchers Fernando Cruz (oblique) and Mark Leiter Jr. (knee) remain sidelined.

Significantly, Bednar and Doval are under team control through 2026, offering the Yankees cost-controlled options at closer even if Williams or Weaver depart via free agency. Bird is controlled through 2028, adding stability to the middle relief corps for years to come.

Impact on Prospect Pipeline and Team Standings

The Yankees traded several prospects deemed valuable by Baseball America, including Flores, ranked ninth in the Yankees organization, and others such as Perez, Riggio, Sanchez, De La Rosa, and Rodriguez who are ranked between 16th and 29th among the team‘s prospects. Parks Harbor and Ben Shields remain unranked, highlighting the Yankees’ commitment to immediate bullpen help over long-term minor-league depth.

Heading into play on Thursday, the Yankees stood four games behind the Toronto Blue Jays, holding a 59-49 record while competing in the tough AL East division. Meanwhile, the Pirates struggle in the National League Central with a 47-62 mark. The new bullpen pieces are expected to help New York solidify their status as playoff contenders as the season progresses.