The Yankees’ bullpen, once a pillar of strength in the Bronx, has quietly become a recurring issue - and it’s not just a one-year blip. Over the past three seasons, New York’s relief corps has posted its three worst performances in the last decade, and the numbers back it up. Despite the front office’s efforts and Aaron Boone’s public optimism, the bullpen remains one of the team’s biggest question marks heading into 2026.
Let’s start with the raw data. Since 2023, the Yankees’ bullpen fWAR has dropped each year: 4.5 in 2023, 2.9 in 2024, and 2.8 in 2025.
That’s a clear downward trend, and it puts them at the bottom of the team’s own standards over the past ten seasons. The 2025 group ranked 21st in the league in bullpen fWAR - a far cry from the dominance fans came to expect in the late 2010s.
Boone, speaking at the Winter Meetings, remained confident: “The bullpen has normally been a strength for us,” he said. “That’s my expectation again.” But right now, that expectation feels more like hope than certainty.
The Yankees did re-sign Paul Blackburn, but let’s be real - that move doesn’t change the equation much. Blackburn is projected for just 0.1 fWAR over 50 innings in 2026.
FanGraphs has the Yankees’ bullpen forecasted for 3.1 fWAR this upcoming season, which would be a modest improvement, but still only good enough to tie for 10th in the league. That’s not exactly the kind of firepower you want backing up a team with October aspirations.
To their credit, the Yankees did some heavy lifting at last season’s trade deadline to try and stabilize the pen. One of the biggest adds was David Bednar, who’s now locked in as the closer.
After a rocky 2024 with Pittsburgh, Bednar bounced back strong in 2025, finishing among the top 10 relievers in fWAR. He brings swing-and-miss stuff, solid control, and a ground-ball rate that helps keep the ball in the yard - all traits you want in a ninth-inning guy.
If he stays healthy, the Yankees can feel good about the closer spot.
But after Bednar, things get murky.
The eighth-inning role is wide open, and the leading candidates come with baggage. Camilo Doval and Fernando Cruz are the top internal options, but both have struggled with command.
In fact, they ranked among the 20 worst relievers in walk rate last season. That’s not ideal for high-leverage situations.
Still, both pitchers have electric stuff. Cruz’s splitter is downright filthy - only Logan Gilbert and Jeremiah Estrada had a higher strikeout rate on that pitch last year.
Doval, meanwhile, brings a 100-mph cutter and a wipeout slider that can make hitters look silly.
The key for Doval is command. Since debuting with the Giants in 2021, he’s flashed elite potential but has often been undone by walks.
The Yankees saw some encouraging signs after acquiring him. In July, Doval’s cutter had a walk rate of 27.3%.
By September, that number had dropped to 8.3%. That’s a dramatic improvement in a short time.
Boone sounded encouraged by what he saw down the stretch. “I really feel good about where he was at the end of the season and into the playoffs,” he said. “He did some things, just in how he gets set and everything, that cleaned him up a little bit and got him just in a better position for strike throwing.”
Boone also mentioned that Doval has had a productive offseason so far, staying in touch with the pitching staff and working through a focused throwing program. If that progress continues, Doval could be a key piece in the late innings.
Still, the Yankees would benefit from adding another proven arm to the back end. The Padres are reportedly open to moving some of their top relievers, including Jeremiah Estrada, Mason Miller, and Adrian Morejon.
Miller might be out of reach in terms of trade capital, but Estrada and Morejon are more realistic targets - and both would be welcome additions. Estrada, in particular, could give the Yankees another swing-and-miss weapon.
Another name to watch: Garrett Cleavinger of the Rays. The Yankees have shown interest in him before, and his 33% strikeout rate would add another layer of nastiness to the bullpen. Given Tampa’s recent activity on the trade market, it wouldn’t hurt for Cashman to pick up the phone again.
Beyond the high-leverage roles, the middle innings are filled with potential - but also plenty of uncertainty. Jake Bird had a brief run with the team in 2025 after coming over from Colorado, but he was sent down after some rough outings.
Still, the Yankees clearly see something they like. Bird posted a 117 Stuff+ and a 16.5% K-BB%, both solid indicators that he could bounce back in 2026.
Brent Headrick is another name Boone highlighted at the Winter Meetings. He didn’t pitch much last season, but when he did, he missed bats and flashed above-average stuff. If he can stay healthy and consistent, he could carve out a bigger role.
Tim Hill, a Boone favorite, remains a trusted option - particularly against lefties. But his struggles against right-handed hitters in 2025 raise concerns about how versatile he can be. If he’s reduced to a lefty specialist role, his value takes a hit in today’s three-batter-minimum world.
At the bottom of the bullpen depth chart, you’ve got Blackburn, Rule 5 pick Cade Winquest, and Yerry De los Santos. Ryan Yarbrough is also expected to be part of the bullpen mix if he’s not in the rotation. If the Yankees add another starter this winter, Yarbrough could shift to a long-relief role - something he’s done capably in the past.
The big picture? The Yankees have a lot of arms, but not a lot of certainty.
Bednar is a rock at the back end. Doval and Cruz have the stuff to be elite, but need to prove they can throw strikes consistently.
The middle innings are filled with promising but unproven arms. That’s a risky formula for a team with postseason ambitions.
So as the offseason rolls on, adding at least one more high-leverage reliever should be a top priority for Brian Cashman. The Yankees can’t afford to enter 2026 with this many questions in the bullpen - not if they want to be playing deep into October.