The New York Yankees are not playing around at this year’s MLB trade deadline. Just hours after landing high-impact closer David Bednar from the Pirates, the Bronx Bombers have added another arm to their bullpen — right-hander Jake Bird from the Colorado Rockies.
Yankees Double Down on Bullpen Depth
With October dreams in full swing, the Yankees are making sure their bullpen is built to go the distance. Jake Bird, a 29-year-old righty who had a strong start to the 2024 season, is the latest addition to a growing list of late-inning options.
To get Bird, the Yankees sent two prospects to Colorado: infielder Roc Riggio and left-handed pitcher Ben Shields. Both players were on the rise but are now part of the Rockies’ rebuild.
Bird may not have the flashiest ERA right now at 4.73, but that number hides the full story. Before a rough patch in July, Bird was cruising with a 2.63 ERA over his first 37 appearances. His recent slump — giving up 14 earned runs over just 5 1/3 innings in his last eight games — inflated his numbers, but the Yankees are clearly looking at more than surface stats.
Why Bird Was on the Yankees’ Radar
Even with a rocky month, Bird’s advanced metrics suggest he’s still a reliable arm. He’s striking out 26.3 percent of batters he faces, putting him in the 77th percentile league-wide. Opposing hitters are only averaging 88.2 mph exit velocity off him, and he boasts a 46.6 percent ground-ball rate. These are signs of a pitcher who can be trusted in high-leverage situations — and someone who can thrive with the right support.
What makes Bird even more valuable is his contract situation. He’s under team control through the 2028 season, giving the Yankees a long-term piece for their bullpen instead of just a rental.
How the Yankees Bullpen Is Shaping Up
Bird joins what’s suddenly becoming a stacked relief core. Alongside newly-acquired David Bednar, the Yankees now have Devin Williams, Luke Weaver, lefty Tim Hill, and Jonathan Loáisiga holding down the fort. And that’s not all — the Yankees are hoping Mark Leiter Jr. returns from the injured list as soon as next week. Fernando Cruz could also join the bullpen mix by late August.
With October baseball in mind, the Yankees are going all-in to ensure they have every inning covered.
What’s Next for the Bronx Bombers?
While this may not be the final move before the deadline clock runs out, one thing’s for sure: the Yankees are aggressively building a playoff-ready team. They’ve now made multiple bullpen upgrades without sacrificing their top-tier prospects and have added players who could be part of the organization for years to come.
The message is clear. The Yankees aren’t just trying to sneak into the playoffs — they’re trying to win it all. And adding Jake Bird is another strategic piece in that championship puzzle.
