The New York Yankees were among the busiest teams at the 2025 MLB Trade Deadline, completely overhauling their roster with eight new additions. In a flurry of moves, the Yankees addressed glaring needs at third base, added multiple bullpen weapons (including two All-Star closers), and bolstered their bench and outfield with platoon specialists and speed. Below is a detailed breakdown of each trade and an in-depth statistical analysis of the players acquired by the Yankees (with a brief note on the prospects they gave up). Advanced metrics, 2025 season stats, and historical performance are used to evaluate how each new Yankee fits into the team’s plans.
Trade 1: Yankees Land Defensive Wizard in Ryan McMahon from the Colorado Rockies (July 25)
Yankees acquire: 3B Ryan McMahon
Rockies receive: LHP Griffin Herring, RHP Josh Grosz
The Yankees’ first move addressed their most obvious hole: third base. Prior to this trade, New York third basemen combined for a paltry .645 OPS in 2025, earning a ranking of the 8th-worst production at 3B in MLB. Enter Ryan McMahon, a 30-year-old left-handed hitter with a reputation for steady offense and strong defense. McMahon was an All-Star in 2024 and has been remarkably consistent at the plate: he has recorded an OPS+ between 90 and 99 (around league-average) in each of the last five seasons. While that suggests he’s not a middle-of-the-order masher, he does offer reliable power (20+ homers per year) and won’t be a black hole in the lineup. In 1,010 career games with Colorado, McMahon slashed .240/.323/.420 with 140 homers, and he’s under contract through 2027 on a team-friendly deal. By acquiring McMahon, the Yankees filled a revolving door at third base (he became the seventh different Yankee to play 3B in 2025).
As of the trade, McMahon was hitting .217/.314/.403 with 16 home runs and 35 RBIs. Those numbers are a bit down from his norms, but he had shown signs of life recently, batting .292 with 3 homers in the week leading up to the deal. His moderate .717 OPS in 2025 should be viewed in context: playing home games at hitter-friendly Coors Field buoyed his overall stats. Notably, McMahon’s career splits reveal a stark home/road difference, a .263 average and .821 OPS at Coors versus just .216 and .665 on the road. This Coors Field effect is a real consideration, but Yankee Stadium’s short right-field porch should help the lefty-swinging McMahon maintain his power output in his new home.
McMahon’s greatest asset is his glove. He has been one of MLB’s better defensive third basemen, leading the majors with 100 games started at 3B this season and ranking in the 91st percentile in Outs Above Average (OAA) with +4 OAA by late July. In other words, he’s converting significantly more plays than the average fielder at the hot corner. Yankees manager Aaron Boone praised McMahon as “a really good defender,” noting that even if McMahon has ups and downs offensively, he provides a steady presence at third.
What the Yankees gave up: two pitching prospects, Griffin Herring and Josh Grosz. Herring, a 22-year-old lefty, was dominant in the minors (1.71 ERA with 102 strikeouts in 89.1 innings in 2025) and immediately became Colorado’s No. 5 prospect after the trade. Grosz (23) was a mid-level prospect (#18 in the Rockies’ system post-trade) with a live arm. While these youngsters have promise, the Yankees opted to convert that prospect capital into a proven major-league third baseman in McMahon, addressing a pressing need for the pennant race.
Trade 2: Versatile Infielder Amed Rosario Joins the Bench (July 26)
Yankees acquire: UT Amed Rosario (from the Washington Nationals)
Nationals receive: RHP Clayton Beeter, OF Browm Martinez
The very next day after landing McMahon, the Yankees added another infielder, Amed Rosario, in a deal with Washington. Rosario, 29, is a familiar name in New York, having come up with the Mets, made his return to The Big Apple as a seasoned utility player. Manager Aaron Boone revealed that the team had been trying to acquire Rosario for a couple of years. The appeal is clear: Rosario brings speed, defensive versatility, and contact hitting to the Yankees’ roster. He has played all around the diamond, primarily second base and third base for the Nationals this season, with cameos at shortstop and even in the outfield. Essentially, he’s a true utility man who can fill in wherever needed (aside from catcher) and provide a right-handed bat off the bench.
In 158 plate appearances for Washington, Rosario hit .270/.310/.426 with 5 home runs. That batting line is respectable, a roughly league-average .736 OPS, and a bit of a rebound for him. Historically, Rosario’s offensive profile has been up and down; he typically hits for a decent average with modest power and a low walk rate. In 2023 he struggled (split between Cleveland and the Dodgers), but in 2025 he was performing well in a part-time role for the Nats. Notably, Rosario can still run. He routinely posts above-average sprint speeds and has multiple seasons of 10+ stolen bases (though he had limited opportunities to steal in 2025). His contact-oriented approach (career 18% strikeout rate) and speed make him a useful bench piece.
A key reason the Yankees acquired Rosario is to pair him with Ryan McMahon at third base. McMahon has had difficulties hitting left-handed pitching, with just a .207/.289/.310 slash against southpaws this year. Rosario, a right-handed hitter, conversely excels against lefties. As of the deal, he was batting .299 with an .816 OPS versus LHP in 2025. In fact, all five of Rosario’s homers this season came off southpaws. Boone indicated Rosario could platoon with McMahon at third, giving the Yankees a solid offensive matchup no matter who’s on the mound. Beyond third base, Rosario’s ability to spot-start at second base or shortstop and even handle corner outfield if needed makes him a valuable swiss-army knife for late-game situations. Rosario’s addition “makes our bench and the balance of our roster more workable,” according to Boone. He isn’t expected to be an everyday starter in New York, but in a stretch run, having a 9-year veteran with postseason experience (Rosario was a key contributor to Cleveland’s 2022 playoff run) can be very beneficial.
What the Yankees gave up: Clayton Beeter, a 26-year-old right-hander, and 18-year-old outfielder Browm Martinez. Beeter was the Yankees’ No. 20 prospect; he has a power arm and had transitioned to relief full-time in Triple-A, where he posted a 3.10 ERA with 33 strikeouts in 20⅓ innings (albeit with a high walk rate). Martinez is a very young lottery ticket, an international signee playing in the Dominican Summer League (he’s only 18 and was in the DSL as of his departure). For the Yankees, dealing Beeter and a far-off prospect was a reasonable price for a plug-and-play utilityman like Rosario who can impact the MLB roster immediately.
Trade 3: Austin Slater Bolsters the Outfield (July 30)
Yankees acquire: OF Austin Slater (from the Chicago White Sox)
White Sox receive: RHP Gage Ziehl
To reinforce an outfield beset by injuries and lacking right-handed bats, the Yankees traded for Austin Slater from Chicago. Slater, 32, is a veteran outfielder with a very clear specialty: hitting left-handed pitching. The former San Francisco Giant, Slater has a career .798 OPS versus lefties and has been used primarily as a platoon player throughout his career. The White Sox had signed him to a one-year deal before 2025, and he performed his role well enough to attract the Yankees’ interest for the pennant race.
Slater was batting .236 with 5 home runs, 6 doubles and a .721 OPS in 51 games for the White Sox at the time of the trade. These overall numbers don’t jump off the page, but they hide the real story: Slater mashes lefties. In those 51 games, he logged only 77 plate appearances against left-handed pitchers, but in that limited sample he hit .261 with all 5 of his homers and an .859 OPS vs LHP. In contrast, against right-handed pitching ,he was able to just record 8 hits, batting well under .200. This stark split is not a fluke; it’s a continuation of Slater’s long-term trend as a platoon bat. For example, in 2022-23 with San Francisco, he put up an OPS in the .800s when facing left-handers, compared to mid-.600s against righties. The Yankees effectively acquired a right-handed complement to their lefty-swinging outfielders.
The need for Slater was heightened by injuries. With superstar Aaron Judge sidelined (and likely limited to DH duties when he first returns), the Yankee outfield skewed heavily left-handed, featuring lefty bats like Cody Bellinger and Trent Grisham, and a switch-hitter in Jasson Domínguez who has struggled mightily from the right side (just a .585 OPS right-handed in 2025). Slater can play all three outfield positions (he started games at RF, LF and, giving manager Aaron Boone flexibility to mix-and-match. Boone envisioned using Slater in platoon situations, essentially starting him in the outfield whenever the opponent throws a left-handed starter. This should help the Yankees avoid scenarios where a lefty pitcher neutralizes multiple lefty Yankee hitters in a lineup. Slater’s arrival, along with Rosario’s, gives New York the ability to deploy more platoon-based lineups, something the Yankees acknowledged the team hasn’t been able to do much in recent years.
Slater also brings some secondary skills. He has a solid .339 career OBP, indicating patience, and he’s a capable defender with experience at all outfield spots (though he’s probably best suited to corners at this stage). He missed a chunk of early 2025 with a right meniscus tear but had recovered by June and had “no issues” with the knee since.
What the Yankees gave up: Gage Ziehl, a 22-year-old pitching prospect (4th round pick in 2024 out of the University of Miami). Ziehl was the Yankees’ No. 18 prospect and had advanced to Double-A; he posted a 4.15 ERA with 70 strikeouts in 82⅓ innings across three minor-league levels in 2025. A solid prospect, but the Yankees dealt from a position of depth (young arms) to fill a pressing need for a right-handed hitting outfielder. Slater is a free agent after this season, essentially a rental, but at a modest cost and with a clear purpose for the final two months: punish left-handed pitching in key matchups.
Trade 4: All-Star Closer David Bednar Anchors the Bullpen (July 31)
Yankees acquire: RHP David Bednar (from the Pittsburgh Pirates)
Pirates receive: C/1B Rafael Flores, C/1B Edgleen Perez, OF Brian Sanchez
(Corresponding move: Relievers Enyel De Los Santos and Ian Hamilton were both optioned to Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre)
The Yankees’ bullpen got a huge boost with the acquisition of David Bednar from Pittsburgh. Bednar, 30, is one of the premier relievers in all of Major League Baseball. He’s a two-time All-Star closer (2022, 2023) who brings high-leverage experience with swing-and-miss stuff. This season had a roller-coaster start for Bednar, but by the deadline he was in peak form. The Yankees had a clear need: their bullpen had been shaky in midsummer (ranking 26th in ERA and 29th in WAR since June 1), so adding Bednar significantly fortifies the late innings.
Don’t be fooled by Bednar’s season ERA of 2.37, it comes with an asterisk. He opened the year in dreadful fashion, taking two losses in the Pirates’ first series and was actually optioned to Triple-A in early April. However, Bednar used that demotion as a turning point. Since being recalled in mid-April, he has been nothing short of dominant. He converted 17 out of 17 save opportunities for the Pirates, not allowing an earned run in 23 consecutive appearances from May 24 to July 26. In other words, for over two months he was essentially untouchable out of the bullpen. By late July, Bednar compiled a 2.37 ERA over 42 games with 51 strikeouts in 38 innings, and he hadn’t blown a save all year. This performance is reminiscent of his 2023 season, when he posted a 2.00 ERA and tied for the National League lead with 39 saves.
The big difference fueling his resurgence in 2025 has been the refinement of his curveball, a pitch he struggled with in a down 2024. This year, a “revitalized” curve became a weapon, accounting for 21 of his 51 Ks with a 37.5% whiff rate and holding batters to a .190 average against it. Pair that knee-buckling curve with Bednar’s mid-to-upper-90s fastball and splitter, and you have a pitcher back in All-Star form. Bednar’s track record speaks volumes. He made the NL All-Star team in 2022 and 2023, and in Pittsburgh he became a fan favorite as a hometown kid (from suburban Mars, PA) who racked up over 100 saves for the Pirates. He brings a bulldog mentality on the mound. At 6’1” and 250 lbs., Bednar attacks hitters aggressively (averaging 12.1 K/9 this year). Despite the early hiccup, he has proven he can handle adversity and pressure. The Yankees now have the luxury of two elite closers in their bullpen, as Bednar joins Williams (another multi-time All-Star). Bednar and new teammate Camilo Doval will remain under team control in 2026 so either could step into the closer’s role next year if Williams doesn’t return (More to come on Doval soon).
What the Yankees gave up: a trio of prospects: Rafael Flores, Edgleen Perez, and Brian Sanchez. Flores (24) was the Yankees’ No. 8 prospect, a power-hitting catcher/first-baseman who was slashing .279/.351/.475 with 16 homers splitting time between Double-A Somerset and Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre. Perez (19) is a young catcher (Yankees’ No. 14 prospect) known for his glove – he boasts a 60-grade arm and 55 fielding per scouts, though his offense is raw (.209 average in A-ball). Sanchez (21) is a Single-A outfielder who is hitting .281 with a .811 OPS this season. This is a significant prospect haul, but notably none of these were in New York’s top 5 prospects, and the Yankees felt dealing from depth (they have catching prospects to spare) was worth it to acquire an established All-Star closer in Bednar.
Trade 5: Ground-Ball Reliever Jake Bird Provides Bullpen Depth (July 31)
Yankees acquire: RHP Jake Bird (from the Colorado Rockies)
Rockies receive: 2B Roc Riggio, LHP Ben Shields
(Corresponding move: Yankees DFA OF Bryan de la Cruz to clear 40-man roster spot)
In addition to the marquee bullpen moves, the Yankees made a quieter trade to pick up Jake Bird from Colorado. Bird, 29, isn’t a household name, but he’s a useful middle reliever with a unique profile. He throws a heavy sinker, gets a lot of ground balls, and can handle multi-inning stints. While not an All-Star like Bednar or Doval, Bird adds depth to a bullpen that had been overworked and inconsistent beyond the top guys.
Bird’s raw stats with the Rockies were a bit misleading due to a Jekyll-and-Hyde season and pitching in Denver’s elevation. Overall, he had a 4.73 ERA in 45 appearances (53⅓ innings) for Colorado, with 62 strikeouts and a 4-1 record. However, that ERA hides two distinct stretches. Through the end of June, Bird was in the midst of a breakout year, he carried a sterling 2.68 ERA across his first 47 innings, striking out 29.1% of batters faced and inducing ground balls at a healthy 48% clip. At that point, he looked like one of the better relief arms in the NL. Then came a disastrous early July: over his last 6⅓ innings with the Rockies, Bird was rocked for 15 earned runs, watching his ERA balloon. Essentially, a few bad outings torpedoed his stats.
The Yankees are clearly banking on the good version of Bird, the one who was missing bats and keeping the ball on the ground for three months, and hoping that a change of scenery and coaching can get him back on track. It’s worth noting that even with the implosion, Bird’s underlying metrics remained solid: in 2025 he posted a career-best 26.3% strikeout rate and continued his trademark ability to get grounders well above league average.
Bird is a sinker-slider reliever with a reputation for being fearless on the mound. Rockies GM Bill Schmidt praised him as “very competitive with the sinker and slider” and noted that Bird “had no fear of Coors Field”, an apt compliment, since Coors is notoriously tough on pitchers. Bird actually thrived in Colorado in 2022, when he threw nearly 90 innings out of Bud Black’s bullpen and proved his durability. He has recorded above-average ground-ball rates in all four of his MLB seasons, a trait the Yankees covet (their bullpen philosophy often targets sinkerballers). He typically sits around 94 mph on his fastball and pairs it with a mid-80s sweeping breaking ball, plus an occasional changeup. When Bird is on, he keeps the ball in the park and in the infield, crucial for a Yankee Stadium pitcher, where limiting airborne contact can prevent cheap home runs.
Additionally, Bird can go multiple innings; he was often used for 2+ inning outings in Colorado and even made a 4-inning relief appearance in the past. That versatility will help a Yankee bullpen that has had some short starts and extra-inning games. Perhaps importantly, Bird is also in his final pre-arbitration year and remains under team control through 2028 at affordable rates, meaning he can be a cost-effective bullpen piece for years to come if he sticks. While Bird won’t be closing games, he represents the kind of middle reliever who can bridge the gap in the 5th, 6th, or 7th innings and keep the team in a game. The Yankees have had success acquiring ground-ball relievers in the past (Clay Holmes comes to mind), and Bird fits that mold.
What the Yankees gave up: Roc Riggio and Ben Shields. Riggio (23) was an exciting infield prospect (2B) and ranked 10th in the Yankees’ system. A fourth-round pick in 2023, Riggio was having a breakout year since recovering from an early-season injury, he slashed .261/.335/.542 with 11 homers and 7 steals in 40 games at Double-A Somerset, showing a mix of pop and speed (his OPS was over .900). Shields (26) was a less heralded prospect (No. 28 in the system) but a rapid riser: an undrafted lefty signed in 2023 who dominated in the minors with a mid-90s fastball and two sharp breaking pitches. Both prospects were at Double-A. The Rockies coveted Riggio’s bat and see him as a potential offensive second baseman down the line. For the Yankees, losing Riggio’s upside hurts, but second base was a position of depth in the system, and the immediate need for reliable relief pitching took precedence.
Trade 6: Yankees Swap Oswald Peraza for Prospect Wilberson De Pena and International Money (July 31)
Yankees acquire: OF Wilberson De Pena + International bonus pool money (from the Los Angeles Angels)
Angels receive: INF Oswald Peraza
Not every Yankees deadline move was an addition; one was a subtraction that served a different purpose. In a somewhat bittersweet trade, New York sent former top prospect Oswald Peraza to the Angels, receiving Wilberson De Pena (an 18-year-old minor league outfielder) and international signing bonus pool money in return. Essentially, this was a change-of-scenery and asset-reallocation deal: Peraza, 25, had struggled to establish himself in the Bronx, and the Yankees opted to flip him for a distant prospect and cash to invest in the international market.
Once regarded as a potential shortstop of the future for New York, Peraza’s bat never came around in sporadic MLB opportunities. In fact, across parts of four seasons (2022-2025) he hit just .190/.263/.285 in 145 games. In 2025, Peraza’s performance reached a low point, in a career-high 71 games, he batted only .152 with a .452 OPS, which equates to a 26 wRC+ (74% below league average offense). By that measure, he was unfortunately one of the least productive hitters in baseball this year. The Yankees had given him ample chances at third base earlier in the season (48 games at 3B), but with McMahon now installed at the hot corner and other infielders ahead of him, Peraza was effectively out of a job. That said, Peraza still offers upside, he’s a plus defender (he ranks in the 82nd percentile in arm strength at 88.8 mph throws across the infield and is sure-handed at SS/2B/3B) and a good base runner (13 stolen bases last year in limited time). Under team control through 2029, the Angels will hope a consistent role unlocks some of his offensive potential.
The return for Peraza is very much about the future. Wilberson De Pena is an 18-year-old outfield prospect who had only 58 games of professional experience, all in the Dominican Summer League. He’s truly a lottery ticket, a young international prospect with presumably some raw tools that Yankees scouts liked. There isn’t much publicly available statistical track record for De Pena (DSL stats are often not indicative of much, given the small sample and young competition). What the Yankees likely value just as much (or more) is the international bonus pool money coming with him. International pool money allows teams to sign international amateur free agents, and by acquiring extra pool funds, the Yankees can be more aggressive in that market. New York has historically been active in signing international prospects, so this trade replenishes their ability to do so after July 2. Essentially, the Yankees turned a struggling bench player (Peraza) into an 18-year-old prospect + the flexibility to potentially sign multiple other 16-17 year old talents. GM Brian Cashman was effectively admitting Peraza didn’t fit the present roster and opted to recoup future value in a different form.
For the 2025 Yankees, this trade doesn’t add an immediate contributor (De Pena is years away and might begin next season in the Florida Complex League). But it does free up a roster spot and some resources. One could also view this move in tandem with the next trade (for Jose Caballero), the Yankees traded away a young infielder who wasn’t producing (Peraza) and shortly after acquired a more useful infielder for the current campaign (Caballero). Time will tell if Wilberson De Pena develops, but the Yankees have had success with lottery-ticket outfielders in the past. Meanwhile, we wish Peraza the best as he gets a fresh start in Los Angeles.
Trade 7: Speedy Utilityman José Caballero Adds Versatility (July 31)
Yankees acquire: INF/OF José Caballero (from the Tampa Bay Rays)
Rays receive: OF Everson Pereira (plus a player to be named later or cash)
In a rare intra-division trade, made literally in the middle of a game, the Yankees picked up José Caballero from the Tampa Bay Rays. Caballero, 28, is a name that might not have been on every fan’s radar, but he brings an intriguing skillset: elite speed, defensive versatility, and a high-energy playing style. In effect, Caballero will help fill the void left by Peraza as a utility infielder, but he offers a very different profile with game-changing speed and the ability to play the outfield as well. During the Yankees-Rays game on July 31, news of the trade broke and cameras caught Caballero in the visiting dugout hugging teammates goodbye mid-game, a sign that this deal was finalized in real time.
The most eye-popping part of Caballero’s résumé is his success at stealing bases. He led the American League in stolen bases in 2024 with 44 steals (though he was caught 16 times, also the most in MLB). And in 2025, despite not playing every day for Tampa, he had already swiped 33 bags in 42 attempts by the end of July. In fact, those 33 steals in his first 83 games led all of MLB at the time. Caballero is relentless on the basepaths, he’s aggressive to the point of being occasionally overzealous, but his success rate (~80%) is solid. This kind of elite speed element is something the Yankees have lacked; as a team they haven’t been among MLB’s big base-stealers in recent years. Caballero gives them a weapon as a pinch-runner and spot starter who can manufacture runs with his legs. He also has improved his plate discipline, drawing more walks, which in turn gives him more chances to use that speed. In 2025, his walk rate was up around 10%, helping offset a lower batting average.
Caballero’s defensive versatility is almost unmatched. Primarily a middle infielder by trade (he came up as a second baseman/shortstop), he expanded his repertoire with the Rays. In 2023-24, he started games at second, third, and shortstop. This year, Tampa even trained him in the outfield, by July 2025 he had logged starts at all three outfield spots. Not many players can literally play six different positions in a season, but Caballero has done it (2B, SS, 3B, LF, RF, and CF). Importantly, he’s not just a warm body at those spots; he’s competent to above-average at most of them. He’s described as a capable shortstop and an above-average second/third baseman, with a flair for occasional highlight plays. In the outfield, his speed and a surprisingly strong arm play best in right field, though he can handle left or center in a pinch. For the Yankees, this means Caballero can be plugged in virtually anywhere on the diamond if needed, a valuable trait as injuries inevitably pop up or if late-game substitutions are required. He essentially combines the infield coverage of a utility infielder and the outfield range of a fourth outfielder in one roster spot.
The knock-on Caballero is that he’s not much of a hitter. With Tampa Bay this year, he hit .226 with a .640 OPS in 85 games, which equated to an 84 wRC+ (16% below league average). He did chip in a couple of home runs and showed decent on-base skills (.315 OBP). In 2023 with Seattle (his debut year), he posted a 2.5 WAR in 104 games thanks largely to his speed and defense, even though his batting average was .238. So, one shouldn’t expect Caballero to light it up with the bat; anything above .230-.240 with a few homers is gravy. The Yankees acquired him primarily for the other dimensions he brings. One positive sign is that Caballero increased his walk rate significantly with the Rays and cut down on strikeouts a bit, suggesting a more mature approach. Also, he has a knack for the little things, bunting for hits, taking extra bases, pestering pitchers by threatening to steal. Those won’t show up in standard stats but can win ballgames in subtle ways.
Caballero is under club control for a long time, he will be arbitration-eligible for the first time after this season and is under control through 2029. That means he can be a cost-controlled utility piece for years to come, for lack of a better term, much like “a poor man’s” Kike Hernández or Whit Merrifield type. For now, he essentially replaces what the Yankees hoped Peraza would be (a utility infielder), but with a very different skill set favoring speed over power.
What the Yankees gave up: Everson Pereira. Pereira, 24, was one of the Yankees’ better outfield prospects. He made his MLB debut in late 2024 but struggled, and he was back in Triple-A this year. With Scranton, Pereira was slashing .254/.357/.507 with 19 home runs and 9 steals in 70 games, a strong showing, especially in the power department (his .864 OPS was impressive). However, Pereira’s path to the big club was blocked and his strikeout rate (near 29% in AAA) remained a concern. By trading him, the Yankees effectively chose to use his 40-man roster spot for a more immediately useful bench player (Caballero). The Rays, in return, get a young outfielder with upside who they can perhaps mold. It is somewhat rare for Tampa to trade away a depth piece like Caballero, but they have other similar players and clearly valued Pereira’s potential. It’s a trade of surplus for need on both sides.
Trade 8: Yankees Land Fireballing Closer Camilo Doval at the Buzzer (July 31)
Yankees acquire: RHP Camilo Doval (from the San Francisco Giants)
Giants receive: RHP Trystan Vrieling, C/INF Jesús Rodriguez, 3B Parks Harber, LHP Carlos de la Rosa
The Yankees saved one of their biggest splashes for last, acquiring Camilo Doval, the San Francisco Giants’ star closer. This move, completed just minutes before the 6 pm ET deadline, gave New York a second All-Star caliber closer (alongside Bednar) and underscored that the Yankees were all-in on fortifying the bullpen. Doval, 28, is an electric right-hander with a triple-digit fastball-cutter and a wipeout slider. He was a 2023 All-Star and led the National League in saves that year, and now he brings his talent to the Bronx in exchange for a package of four prospects.
Since debuting in 2021, Camilo Doval has saved 107 games for the Giants, quickly rising to 7th on the Giants’ all-time saves list. He took over as San Francisco’s closer as a rookie during their 107-win season in 2021, showing he can handle high-pressure situations from a young age. In 2023, Doval was dominant for most of the year, earning 39 saves (tied for the NL lead) and an All-Star nod.
Doval’s arsenal is among the most intimidating in baseball. He regularly throws in the 99-102 mph range. Notably, he throws a cutter that averages around 100 mph, a pitch that has drawn comparisons to Mariano Rivera’s cutter, albeit at extreme velocity. He pairs it with a high-80s slider that is virtually unhittable when he’s in rhythm. Scouts will tell you Doval has “closer stuff” in spades, the kind of arm that can overpower any hitter.
It wasn’t all smooth sailing recently. Late in 2024, Doval hit a rough patch of inconsistency, struggling enough that the Giants briefly sent him down to Triple-A to reset. He finished 2024 with an uncharacteristic 4.88 ERA, leading some to question if heavy usage had caught up to him. By all accounts, like Bednar, Doval took that as motivation to improve. He rededicated himself in the offseason, focusing on controlling the running game (a previous weakness) and maintaining his focus and pace on the mound. The results showed in 2025: in 47 appearances for the Giants, Doval posted a 3.09 ERA with 50 strikeouts in 46⅔ innings. He converted 15 saves (out of the Giants’ admittedly low win total). Doval did have one rough stretch in late June where he gave up 10 earned runs in a span of 10 outings, but he bounced back strongly in July. In fact, with a swarm of scouts watching in the week leading up to the deadline, Doval delivered back-to-back dominant outings against the Pirates, including a finale where he struck out Andrew McCutchen, Bryan Reynolds, and Oneil Cruz to finish the game. That showing likely cemented the Yankees’ decision to pay the price for him. When Doval is “right,” as one Giants insider put it, he is “as electric as any reliever in the game.”
Doval is not a one-and-done rental. He’s under team control through at least 2027 (he won’t be a free agent for several more seasons due to his late-2021 debut). This means the Yankees view him as a long-term pillar of their bullpen. It’s easy to envision Doval and Bednar anchoring the back end of games for the next few years, potentially forming a righty-righty combo akin to past Yankee duos like Mariano Rivera and John Wetteland (to invoke a 90s example), though of course, those are lofty comparisons. Manager Boone can now mix Devin Williams, David Bednar, and Camilo Doval in the 7th-9th innings, giving hitters vastly different looks (Williams’ changeup, Bednar’s curve, Doval’s heat). The Yankees effectively have four All-Star relievers now (if you count former All-Stars Williams and Luke Weaver along with Bednar and Doval). This depth allows them to shorten games come October, a strategy often key to playoff success. Landing a pitcher of Doval’s caliber required the Yankees to part with a sizeable prospect package.
What the Yankees gave up: four young players – Trystan Vrieling, Jesús Rodriguez, Parks Harber, and Carlos De La Rosa. None were considered “blue-chip” top 100 MLB prospects, but it’s a quantity and depth play for San Francisco. Vrieling (24) was the highest rated, a right-hander ranked around No. 19 in the Yankees’ system, known for a solid fastball and slider; he was in High-A. Rodríguez (21) was a versatile infielder (some sources list him as a catcher, but Giants outlets called him an infielder), he and Harber (a 22-year-old third baseman with power) were mid-round picks performing decently in the low minors. De La Rosa (20) is a lefty pitcher who ranked as the Yankees’ No. 25 prospect, showing promise in A-ball with a projectable frame. According to one report, these prospects correspond to the Yankees’ system ranks of roughly #19, #25, #22, and #29. It’s a lot of future talent to give up, but notably the Yankees did not surrender any of their top-5 prospects in this or any deadline deal (their very best prospects like Spencer Jones, George Lombard, etc., stayed put). By spreading the cost over multiple lower-ranked prospects, New York preserved its elite pipeline while still satisfying the Giants’ ask for Doval. From the Giants’ perspective, Doval was one of their most valuable trade chips and moving him signaled a mini-rebuild; they extracted four young players to bolster their farm. From the Yankees’ perspective, they acquired an elite closer in his prime to pair with another elite closer (Bednar), an uncommon luxury, with the idea that shortening games and locking down leads is the path to multiple deep October runs.
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