The New York Yankees continued their flurry of moves before the trade deadline by acquiring right-handed reliever Jake Bird from the Colorado Rockies, aiming to reinforce their struggling bullpen. This trade, completed just hours after securing David Bednar, sent second baseman Roc Riggio and left-handed pitcher Ben Shields to Colorado, marking the team’s fifth transaction of the day.
Profile and Performance of Jake Bird
Jake Bird, 29, has been a consistent bullpen presence for the Rockies over the past four seasons, having been selected by Colorado in the fifth round of the 2019 draft. A UCLA graduate, Bird relies heavily on his unique sweeper pitch, complemented by a sinker and an impressive curveball, which has proven particularly effective this season as opponents have managed only a .185 batting average against it with a slugging percentage of .204. Through 53.1 innings pitched this year, Bird sports a 4.73 ERA, though advanced metrics such as a 3.46 xFIP and 3.59 xERA suggest his underlying performance is stronger than traditional numbers indicate. Notably, he has achieved a career-high strikeout rate of 26.3%, making him a valuable late-inning option for Yankees manager Aaron Boone amid the expanding bullpen corps.
Prospects Moving to Colorado: Roc Riggio and Ben Shields
The Rockies receive two promising prospects from the Yankees’ Top 30 rankings. Roc Riggio, 23, was a fourth-round draft pick in 2021 from Oklahoma State who had been working through a breakthrough season split between High-A Hudson Valley and Double-A Somerset before the trade. While some scouts believe Riggio possesses the power potential to serve as a reliable bench player, others express concerns over flaws in his hitting mechanics that cause him to pull the ball too frequently and struggle against offspeed pitching. Additionally, his defense at second base is considered a liability, possibly necessitating a position change. Baseball America currently ranks Riggio as the Yankees’ No. 22 prospect.
Meanwhile, 26-year-old left-hander Ben Shields joined the Yankees as an undrafted free agent from George Mason in 2023. Throughout this season, Shields has improved velocity and added a sweeper pitch to complement his existing slider, curveball, and splitter. After returning from a 60-day injured list stint on June 28, he has mainly pitched for Double-A Somerset, with a fastball velocity ranging between 92 and 95 mph.
Impact and Outlook of the Trade for New York and Colorado
By acquiring Jake Bird, the Yankees aim to bolster their bullpen depth with a pitcher capable of delivering late-game outs, complementing recent additions including David Bednar. This move underscores New York’s commitment to shoring up their relief corps as they approach the stretch run of the season.
The Rockies, in return, strengthen their farm system with two young prospects who could develop into useful contributors. Riggio’s breakout season and Shields’ pitching arsenal provide Colorado with potential options for the future, addressing organizational depth and long-term talent cultivation.