The Yankees seriously fortified their bullpen on Thursday, acquiring Jake Bird, David Bednar, and Camilo Doval ahead of the 6 p.m. trade deadline.
What they did NOT do, however, is supplement their starting rotation, which will get Luis Gil back on Sunday and now has six MLB-proven options for five spots once again.
“We tried to improve there; we certainly knocked on many doors regarding starting pitching, but weren’t able to match up,” GM Brian Cashman said in a post-deadline press conference. “We had a lot of conversations in a lot of different places, and there was a lot of effort in a lot of arenas.
We didn’t necessarily pivot (to relief help en masse), but everything we’ve done represents what we were able to gravitate to and solidify.”
Cashman wouldn’t, and couldn’t, talk about any deals that didn’t happen or even other conversations, about starting pitching or otherwise, saying only that “so many conversations lead nowhere.”
But what he did say is that the Yankees acquiring three relievers who all have varying degrees of team control beyond this season
“We were able to push through on a lot of these conversations, and I would say it’s a benefit – but we definitely had conversations with rental relievers, too,” Cashman said. We were fully engaged with everyone in the marketplace to make sure there were opportunities. There are benefits to control, no doubt about it, but more than anything, it’s about the quality of the player we had interest in and the ability to match up. In these cases, we were able to find matches easier than other opportunities where we couldn’t.”
Aaron Boone said after the Yankees’ rain-delayed win over the Rays, which stretched about 20 minutes past the deadline, that Devin Williams will remain the closer, but with Luke Weaver (12 saves in two seasons with the Yankees), Doval (107 saves in four years as Giants closer), Bednar (98 saves in four seasons as Pirates closer), and Bird in the mix, Boone has A LOT of back-end options.
And that doesn’t even include holdover Jonathan Loaisiga, who got the save in Thursday’s win and has been a late-inning option for much of his career.
A lot of choices, and in this case, it’s going to be up to the skipper every day how to deploy them.
“It’s however Boonie shakes it out,” Cashman said. “Our intent wasn’t who’s slotting where as much as giving as many quality choices to match up on an everyday basis. We’re now entering a sprint, so we have to do the best we can, and we felt these opportunities and risks were worth taking despite what we gave up. We’re excited by our additions and the players we have coming together for the final sprint, and them hopefully doing great things.”