Yankees in hot pursuit of 2 heavy-hitting bullpen arms

   

The New York Yankees are urgently searching for bullpen reinforcements as the trade deadline inches closer, with pressure mounting daily.

Yankees in hot pursuit of 2 heavy-hitting bullpen arms

General manager Brian Cashman knows the back end of the bullpen has been far too inconsistent for a playoff contender.

While the rotation has stabilized, the late innings remain a house of cards—one gust away from disaster most nights.

That’s why Cashman is actively pursuing two of the best relief options on the market, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN: David Bednar and Ryan Helsley.

“They’re in on David Bednar, they’re in on Ryan Helsley. I anticipate they’re going to get a big relief arm before the deadline is over. Perhaps two relief arms and they’re also looking for starting pitcher as well.”

 

— Jeff Passan on Pardon the Interruption

Each brings a unique skillset and upside, but both could immediately transform the tone of close games for this Yankees team.

MLB: Arizona Diamondbacks at Pittsburgh Pirates, david bednar, yankees
Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Bednar brings control and bounce-back dominance

Pittsburgh Pirates closer David Bednar has reemerged as one of the most dominant arms in the National League this season.

After a disastrous 2023 where he posted a 5.77 ERA, Bednar has rebounded sharply and looks like his former All-Star self again.

Over 38 innings, the 30-year-old has carved out a 2.37 ERA with a stellar 12.08 strikeouts per nine innings.

Bednar also owns a 41.3% ground ball rate, giving him a reliable path to escape jams when strikeouts aren’t enough.

His pitch mix generates strong swing-and-miss numbers, and he’s doing it all for a Pirates team going nowhere fast.

Bednar is under contract through 2026, giving any acquiring team an extra year of high-leverage relief without rental risk.

For the Yankees, that kind of control makes him far more appealing—even if the price in prospects will sting a bit.

Helsley would be a powerful rental

If the Yankees opt for a shorter-term commitment, Ryan Helsley of the St. Louis Cardinals is firmly on their radar.

Helsley has tossed 36 innings with a 3.00 ERA this season, flashing overpowering stuff and clutch-level composure.

His fastball averages 99.3 mph and ranks in the 99th percentile for velocity—few pitchers in baseball throw harder.

Beyond the velocity, Helsley’s advanced metrics are elite: 94th percentile in chase rate and 86th in whiff rate.

He pairs his heater with a nasty slider, giving him two legitimate out pitches in high-pressure situations.

Though he becomes a free agent at season’s end, he’s the kind of rental who could dominate a playoff series.

MLB: San Diego Padres at St. Louis Cardinals
Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

Yankees need more than just depth—they need dominance

Both Bednar and Helsley represent more than just added arms—they’d be tone-setters in a bullpen that’s lacked a true stopper.

Clay Holmes is no longer in the picture, and the Yankees have struggled to find a consistent finisher to lock things down.

Bringing in one, or even both, of these relievers would finally allow Aaron Boone to map out late innings with confidence.

It’s like adding a parachute when skydiving without one—once they’re in place, every high-leverage inning feels a bit safer.

Cashman knows playoff games are often decided in the seventh through ninth innings, and this roster currently lacks margin.

If the Yankees are serious about making a deep run, adding one of these bullpen aces needs to be a top priority.