Yankees Strike Out in Reliever Market, Leaving Bullpen Questions Unanswered
The top-tier relievers are off the board, and the New York Yankees are left watching from the sidelines. With Pete Fairbanks heading to the Miami Marlins, the final big name in the 2025-2026 free agent reliever class is gone-and the Yankees didn’t land a single one.
Let’s be clear: there are still arms available. But the headline names?
All signed. And the Yankees?
They’re coming up empty.
It’s been a rough stretch in the bullpen department for the Bronx Bombers. Not only did they miss out on Fairbanks, but they’ve also seen potential targets-and even some of their own-head elsewhere.
Devin Williams and Luke Weaver are now across town with the Mets. Edwin Díaz, once the Mets’ lockdown closer, is headed west to the Dodgers.
The Braves added serious firepower with Robert Suarez and Raisel Iglesias. Ryan Helsley is joining an already stacked Orioles bullpen.
Even dependable veterans like Shawn Armstrong, Kenley Jansen, and Tyler Rogers have found new homes.
And the attrition didn’t stop there. Mark Leiter Jr., who could’ve offered some mid-inning stability, signed with the Athletics.
So what’s left? Not much in terms of prime-age, high-upside options.
The best remaining relievers by 2024-2025 WAR are mostly seasoned vets-Kirby Yates, David Robertson, Jakob Junis. That’s not to say they can’t contribute, but they don’t exactly scream long-term solution or high-leverage dominance.
If there’s a name with some upside still out there, it might be Seranthony Dominguez-but even that’s a gamble at this point.
The reality is this: the top of the reliever market has been picked clean, and the Yankees didn’t grab a seat at the table. That leaves one path forward if they want to seriously upgrade the bullpen-trades.
And they’ll need to. Because while the Yankees’ bullpen isn’t barren, it’s been a weak link. Too many games slipped away late in 2025, and so far, there’s been little indication the front office is treating that as an urgent issue heading into 2026.
This isn’t about panic-it’s about priorities. The bullpen isn’t just a luxury; it’s a necessity, especially for a team with postseason aspirations. And right now, the Yankees are playing catch-up in a race they can’t afford to lose.
If the late innings go sideways again in 2026, the writing will have been on the wall. The Yankees had a chance to fortify the bullpen with proven arms-and they missed it.