The Yankees continue to remain busy in addressing their previously shaky bullpen.
According to multiple reports, New York has acquired righty reliever Jake Bird from the Rockies, with ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan reporting the return package including second base Triple-A prospect Roc Riggio and pitching prospect Ben Shields.
The Bird move comes shortly after the Yanks made another bullpen splash in the form of Pirates closer David Bednar. Brian Cashman, who was reportedly expected to prioritize relief help at the deadline, has lived up to that assumption.
Bird, 29, has pitched to a 4.73 ERA with Colorado in 53.1 innings of work this season. He holds a 4.57 ERA across his four-year career, all with the Rockies at hitter-friendly Coors Field (though his season ERA on the road has been noticeably worse than at home).
The 2025 campaign has easily been Bird’s best from a strikeout standpoint, fanning 10.5 batters per nine innings. His previous career high was 7.9 as a rookie in 2022.
Bird had a 2.79 ERA as recently as early July before a disastrous outing against the Red Sox and a blown save against the Guardians back on Monday, when he allowed four runs without recording an out.
Still, Bird is a candidate to find another level under the tutelage of Yanks pitching coach Matt Blake. He is not a free agent until 2029.