Yankees acquire relievers David Bednar, Camilo Doval and Jake Bird at trade deadline, add Jose Caballero from Rays

The Yankees approached the trade deadline almost desperate to make significant additions to three areas of need — the rotation, the bullpen and third base.

And when it was “pencils down” at the 6 p.m. deadline Thursday, an expression general manager Brian Cashman often uses at this time of year regarding the roster, he had checked two of those three off his list.

One of them repeatedly.

Unable to secure another starting pitcher, Cashman made three additions to his struggling bullpen, completely remaking the unit during a flurry of final-hours activity. He acquired righthander David Bednar, an All-Star reliever with the Pirates, and hard-throwing Giants righthander Camilo Doval, whose fastball averages 98.1 mph and has been clocked as high as 104.5 mph.

In between those moves, Cashman brought in righthander Jake Bird from the Rockies.

“I know we have improved ourselves,” Cashman said after the deadline had passed. “I know we’re better today than we were yesterday, so mission accomplished there. Looking forward to these players competing in a really difficult market against some really high-end teams. See where it plays. We’re looking forward to taking our shot.”

Before Thursday’s moves, manager Aaron Boone more or less was down to three relievers in his circle of trust — righthanders Luke Weaver and Devin Williams and lefthander Tim Hill. After Thursday’s 7-4 victory over the Rays, Boone said Williams will stay as the closer.

The bullpen, among the best in the majors during the first two months of the season but among the worst during the last two months, is expected to get additional fortifications soon with the return of Mark Leiter Jr. and Fernando Cruz from the injured list.

Also on Thursday, Cashman acquired Rays utility infielder Jose Caballero, who was pulled mid-game Thursday as he found out he had been dealt to the home clubhouse. The righthanded-hitting and slick-fielding Caballero can play second, third and shortstop, playing most of his games in his career at the latter position, an interesting twist given Anthony Volpe’s struggles this season.

Cashman said Volpe’s play had nothing to do with getting Caballero. Instead, it was about the 28-year-old providing more “flexibility” for the bench than Oswald Peraza, a one-time top organizational prospect whom Cashman sent to the Angels in exchange for outfield prospect Wilberson De Pena and international bonus pool money.

Caballero, who is hitting .226 with a .328 on-base percentage but is tied for the MLB lead with 34 stolen bases, gives the Yankees a baserunning threat they’ve long been seeking.

The Yankees sent outfielder Everson Pereira and a player to be named or cash considerations to the Rays for Caballero.

Thursday was the end of a busy week for Cashman, who over the weekend addressed a gaping hole at third base with the acquisition of Ryan McMahon, who has been productive in the field and at the plate since making his Yankees debut on Saturday.

Cashman also addressed an overall lineup that at times this season has been susceptible to lefthanded pitching with the additions of two hitters who in their careers have hit lefty pitching particularly well, infielder Amed Rosario and outfielder Austin Slater.

“Excited,” Boone said of the roster additions. “Love what they [the front office] were able to do. Think we’re a better club today than yesterday and certainly today than we were last week. Now we know what we’re going with and what we’ve got. Onward.”

Though Cashman tried to provide rotation depth, that wish was left unfulfilled. That unit could receive a boost soon with the return of reigning AL Rookie of the Year Luis Gil, who is scheduled to start Sunday against Miami.

It was clear, however, that the organization’s No. 1 priority was the bullpen, evidenced by the three new relievers, all of whom are under team control through next season.

Bednar has a 2.37 ERA in 42 games this season, striking out 51 batters and walking 10 in 38 innings.

An All-Star in 2022 and ’23 — when he posted ERAs of 2.61 and 2..00, respectively — Bednar had a down season in 2024 with a 5.77 ERA. But even in what overall was a miserable season, he struck out 58 batters in 57 2⁄3 innings.

Bird, acquired for second base prospect Roc Riggio and lefty prospect Ben Shields, has a 4.73 ERA but 62 strikeouts in 51 1⁄3 innings.

Doval had a 3.09 ERA in 47 games, striking out 50 and walking 24 in 46 2⁄3 innings.

Said Cashman, “I think we’ve addressed a lot of areas of need to try to give us the best shot we can take.”

By Erik Boland

erik.boland@newsday.comeboland11

Erik Boland started in Newsday's sports department in 2002. He covered high school and college sports, then shifted to the Jets beat. He has covered the Yankees since 2009.