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Yankees 'ignored' roster moves at this position after busy MLB trade deadline
TL;DR
The New York Yankees made few roster changes after the MLB trade deadline, particularly in their bullpen, re-signing Paul Blackburn and Ryan Yarbrough while selecting Cade Winquest, who was later designated for assignment. Analysts suggest this lack of aggressive moves could haunt the team in the future.
Yankees 'ignored' roster moves at this position after busy MLB trade deadline originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The New York Yankees made minimal external additions to the roster during the offseason.
That's especially true for their bullpen. The AL East club re-signed Paul Blackburn and Ryan Yarbrough, and selected Cade Winquest in the Rule 5 Draft. Winquest was designated for assignment before he could make his Major League debut.
FanSided's Zachary Rotman believes an unaggressive approach to improving the bullpen will be the Yankees' biggest regret.
"I get that Brian Cashman did much of the heavy lifting for the 2026 bullpen at the 2025 trade deadline by acquiring the likes of David Bednar, Camilo Doval, and Jake Bird. I also like Fernando Cruz and Tim Hill a lot," Rotman wrote Tuesday.
Rotman added that New York's front office practically "ignored" the bullpen during the winter.
More: Shohei Ohtani deemed more valuable than Aaron Judge in recent ESPN discussion piece
"Depth in this 'pen is a major issue, though. I mean, they began their season with Winquest, Paul Blackburn, and Ryan Yarbrough securing the final three spots of the bullpen," he added. "Winquest had no MLB experience, and both Blackburn and Yarbrough are long relievers that the Yankees should want no part of seeing in big spots."
The Yankees could have reinforcements on the way. Their top pitching prospect, Carlos Lagrange, impressed in spring training after consistently hitting over 100 mph on his fastball. Right-hander Yovanny Cruz is also a name to watch.
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Q&A
What roster moves did the Yankees make after the MLB trade deadline?
The Yankees re-signed Paul Blackburn and Ryan Yarbrough and selected Cade Winquest in the Rule 5 Draft, but Winquest was later designated for assignment.
Why are analysts concerned about the Yankees' bullpen decisions?
Analysts believe the Yankees' unaggressive approach to improving their bullpen could be their biggest regret, especially after making significant acquisitions at the previous trade deadline.
Who are the key players acquired by the Yankees for their bullpen at the 2025 trade deadline?
The Yankees acquired David Bednar, Camilo Doval, and Jake Bird to strengthen their bullpen at the 2025 trade deadline.