For the New York Yankees, it’s a fight for the season. A brutal 16-24 skid has left them 3½ games behind in the AL East with a tenuous hold on a wild-card berth. Their once-mighty bullpen has become their weakness. Sensing the need, the general manager, Brian Cashman, engineered an array of deals at the July 31st trade deadline. In short order, the Yankees were able to add three high-impact relievers to the fold, acquiring Pirates closer David Bednar, Giants closer Camilo Doval, and Rockies righty Jake Bird. They also signed utilityman José Caballero to help their bench.
But when the dust cleared, the most significant maneuver was not a trade at all. It was a declaration. Manager Aaron Boone made a choice. Despite some new shiny arms in his arsenal now, the ball in the ninth inning would remain in the same hand.
“Aaron Boone says Devin Williams will remain the Yankees closer after today’s additions, per @BryanHoch,” Talkin’ Yanks posted on X.
Aaron Boone says Devin Williams will remain the Yankees closer after today’s additions, per @BryanHoch pic.twitter.com/i3DPhzzzmB
— Talkin’ Yanks (@TalkinYanks) July 31, 2025
Boone is, however, excited about the revamped pen. He did admit to the team’s recent struggles, adding: “Shortening the game’s been a little bit of a challenge for us over the last month and a half with some of the injuries we’ve had.” The skipper praised the new additions, saying, “I know we got some high-powered guys now to go with what’s already a pretty good flock of guys, too.”
The need for extra support was evident. The Yankees’ bullpen was brutally collapsed. Since July 1, their relievers had posted a staggering 6.27 ERA. The entire unit entered deadline day with a collective 4.24 ERA, which placed them 21st in the league. The injuries to critical setup men like Fernando Cruz and Mark Leiter Jr. had left the bullpen overworked and exposed.
The man at the heart of the issue, Devin Williams, also embraced the arrival of the new guys. “I think we definitely got better today. They’re three incredible pitchers,” he said. The 30-year-old can clearly see the tactical value of these additions and the advantage it gives to the manager. He further added, “You got a lot of options for Booney now. It’s kind of hard to go wrong.”
So, how will these new pieces fit in the Yankees’ setup?
A Closer Look at the New Additions
Devin Williams’s season has had its ups and downs, to say the least. The Yankees brought him in from the Brewers in a big offseason trade, expecting his famous “Airbender” changeup would seal the game on most occasions. However, the ride got bumpy quite fast. He had a rough April, which saw his ERA swell to a whopping 11.25.
After a damaging blown save against the Toronto Blue Jays, he was temporarily removed from the closing duties, and he got himself back into the role only after Luke Weaver suffered an injury.
Williams’ return to the closer role was, however, a two-sided coin. He made some successful saves, showing flashes of his old self. But these successes were often followed by gut-punching failures. He lost a critical game against the San Diego Padres as well, blowing a save on May 5th. This, along with certain other things, gave him an ERA of 5.01 to start August, making Boone’s decision to stick with him all the more stunning.
The two new closers added to the bullpen now have fine resumes. David Bednar, a two-time All-Star, has been a revelation since a short interlude in Triple-A. This year, the 30-year-old has posted an impressive 2.37 ERA with 17 saves and 51 strikeouts in 38 innings. Best of all, his contract through 2026 gives the Yankees a good amount of control.
Then there’s Camilo Doval. The 28-year-old former All-Star has pitched to a 3.09 ERA so far this season, stacking up 15 saves and 50 strikeouts in 46.2 innings. Doval is a valuable asset for the future, with team control through 2027. Also, Jake Bird, 29, can turn out to be a shrewd pick-up. Although his 4.73 ERA may not stand out but it’s largely inflated by a rough July and the hitter-friendly nature of Coors Field.
But the trades came at a heavy cost. The Yankees sent a package of prospects that included catchers Rafael Flores and Jesus Rodriguez, right-hander Trystan Vrieling, and infielder Roc Riggio. It was a necessary cost to fix their most pressing issue. As Brian Cashman said, “You can have a good team that’s not playing well, so I think that would characterize what the most recent stretch has been. But I do believe that that team, which is now different than this team, is good and has a chance to do good things. It was our job to try to find a way to improve upon it.”
The front office has played its part. Now, Aaron Boone and his closer, Devin Williams, have everyone’s attention.
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