The New York Yankees’ decision to option reliever Jake Bird to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday was as predictable as the bullpen meltdown that triggered it.
Bird gave up seven runs—six of them earned—across just two innings since being acquired at the trade deadline. His latest disaster came in Monday night’s 8-5 loss to the Texas Rangers, when he served up a walk-off three-run homer to Josh Jung in the 10th inning, continuing the Yankees’ brutal collapse in high-leverage games.
It was Bird’s third outing with New York and likely his last for a while.
Another Failed Trade Deadline Patch Job
The Yankees didn’t exactly swing big at the deadline. Instead of targeting a reliable lefty or a proven late-inning arm, they added Jake Bird, Camilo Doval, and David Bednar in what appeared to be a calculated, volume-based upgrade.
But the group hasn’t delivered.
Bird wasn’t meant to be the centerpiece of the bullpen overhaul. But even as a depth option, his performance has been indefensible. Monday night, after Devin Williams blew a save in the bottom of the ninth by surrendering a game-tying homer to Joc Pederson, Bird entered in the 10th and gave up the game-winner.
Williams, acquired from the Brewers over the offseason in a high-profile deal, has had his share of shaky outings lately too—something the Yankees were hoping to avoid when they built a bullpen intended to shut down postseason-caliber lineups.
Bird, for his part, retired the first two batters in the 10th before the Yankees chose to intentionally walk Wyatt Langford to face Jung. One pitch later, the game was over. Bird’s ERA in pinstripes ballooned to 27.00, and his demotion was inevitable.
Same Problems, Different Names
Sending Bird to Triple-A won’t fix the glaring flaw in the Yankees’ postseason plans: the bullpen remains a liability.
Even the arms they do trust are faltering. Williams has blown leads. The Marlins torched Bednar. Doval hasn’t looked like the dominant version the Giants had hoped for when they made him their closer. And while Luke Weaver and a few others have provided short bursts of competence, the Yankees lack a reliable stopper when the game is on the line.
New York is now 0-6 in extra innings on the road and has gone 25-33 since May 28. A team once projected for 100 wins is now fighting to stay above the playoff line. With the Blue Jays pulling away in the AL East and both the Red Sox and Mariners in the Wild Card mix, the Yankees’ margin for error is shrinking fast.
The bullpen isn’t just blowing leads—it’s burning the season down. Bird was only the latest reliever to fail, but he won’t be the last unless something changes.
He may get another chance later this season. But if the Yankees can’t figure out how to hold a late lead, Bird’s next outing might be in a game that no longer matters.
Yankees’ Deadline Bullpen Overhaul Already Falling Apart