The New York Yankees have overcome a recent lull to solidify their spot atop the American League East division, as their 13-9 record is currently the best in the entire AL. While it hasn’t been perfect, the Yanks look more than capable of establishing themselves as a World Series threat this season.
And yet, there are already needs popping up for New York in 2026. While its lineup and starting rotation are both in good shape, its bullpen remains a work in progress. This isn’t exactly a surprise, but if you ask MLB insider Jon Heyman, he believes it may already be time for general manager Brian Cashman to hit the trade market for some help.
Yankees Pushed to Trade for Bullpen Help
(w/ @JonHeyman)
The Yankees’ Achilles’ heel in 2025 was their bullpen, and with the team not making many major additions over the offseason, it was clear this would once again be a problem for the team. Manager Aaron Boone has done a good job of stringing things together, but it remains to be seen if this current setup is sustainable.
Guys like Brent Headrick, Tim Hill, and Fernando Cruz have enjoyed strong starts to the year, but Boone needs more guys he can trust. Closer David Bednar is leading the AL in saves, but he has a 4.15 ERA through nine appearances, which isn’t ideal. Former San Francisco Giants star closer Camilo Doval is also still a mess, as he has a bloated 7.56 ERA in 8.1 innings of work.
Between Bednar and Doval, New York was hoping it would have its closer, but it may need a stronger option to finish out games. Even then, it wouldn’t hurt to get another late-innings guy to take some of the pressure off of Headrick and Cruz. So while it may be early in the season, Heyman thinks Cashman should already be poking through the reliever market for trades.
“As we said at the beginning of the year, bullpen, I’m just not sure they have a championship bullpen,” Heyman said on “MLB Insider Notebook with Jon Heyman.” “To me, that’s an average bullpen. It was average last year … and they’re even more average this year.”
Who Could the Yankees Trade for to Fix Bullpen Issues?
GettyNEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 08: New York Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman speaks to the media prior to the start of the game against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium on April 08, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
It’s very early for trade rumors to be popping up, but New York is operating with an added sense of urgency this offseason. Not many guys have emerged as legitimate trade candidates just yet, but perhaps the best option for the Yanks is Kansas City Royals closer Carlos Estevez. His injury status will be worth keeping tabs on, as he only appeared in one game this season, getting rocked for six runs, before landing on the injured list.
If the Royals decide to sell at the deadline, Estevez could be a sensible option for the Yankees, as he would give Boone another option he could turn to late in games. It’s still very early to be talking about trades, though, so New York will likely have to wait a little bit before making moves at this spot. In the meantime, the Yanks will look to continue their winning ways, as they will kick off a three-game series against the New York Yankees on Tuesday night.
Yankees Urged to Trade for Reinforcements at Key Position