"On August 5, New York optioned him to Triple-A, where he stayed for the remainder of the season. Bird has pitched 232 1/3 big-league innings with a 4.76 ERA since debuting in 2022. He owns a career 21.1% strikeout rate and a 9.8% walk rate, although he upped his strikeout rate to an above-average 26.6% in 55 1/3 innings in 2025."
"In addition to the strikeouts, he has a 70th-percentile groundball rate that could play up with strong infield defense from Ryan McMahon, Jazz Chisholm Jr., and Anthony Volpe (if he regains his Gold Glove-caliber defense following shoulder surgery). Bird also has a plus sweeper and curveball according to Statcast, though he'll need to improve his sinker (-6 run value) if he plans to compete for middle- and high-leverage innings."
Multiple bullpen arms departed via free agency and non-tender decisions, including Devin Williams, Luke Weaver, Jake Cousins, Scott Effross, Mark Leiter Jr., and Ian Hamilton. Jonathan Loaisiga had his club option declined and Allan Winans was released to pursue an opportunity in Japan. The Yankees re-signed Ryan Yarbrough and Paul Blackburn and picked up a left-hander's option for depth. The relief corps projects thinner behind Fernando Cruz, Camilo Doval, and closer David Bednar. Internal options include Jake Bird, who struggled after a 2025 trade-deadline move but posted improved strikeout rates, and Brent Headrick, claimed off waivers and shuffled between Triple-A and the majors before ending the year injured.
Read at MLB Trade Rumors
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]