BOSTON — Brian Cashman’s biggest swings at the trade deadline were about bolstering a struggling bullpen.
Almost a month and a half later, that remains a work in progress, at best.
“Some worked out more than others,” Cashman said Friday of his deadline moves. “I certainly felt good [about] improving the roster from the deadline, but again, some have impacted us in a more positive way and others are still finding their way. But we got a little time to see if we can have it click in. In the meantime, we just got to win our games regardless of performance.”
Both of those things came to fruition Friday night when Fernando Cruz, Devin Williams and David Bednar closed out a 4-1 win over the Red Sox. Cruz gave up a solo home run in the seventh, but Williams worked around a leadoff single to retire the heart of the Red Sox order in the eighth before Bednar slammed the door shut in the ninth.
“We have the pieces down there, we have the guys down there capable of shutting the game down,” manager Aaron Boone said. “It’s just about doing it consistently.”
Of the three relievers Cashman brought in at the deadline, only Bednar has performed well while taking over the closer’s role. But it has been much rockier for Camilo Doval, who entered Friday with a 6.59 ERA in 16 games with the Yankees while Jake Bird got demoted to Triple-A after giving up six earned runs in just three games and has not returned since.
For Doval, there has been an adjustment period in a new role for the former Giants closer.
“Someone who’s trying to find himself here in a new environment,” Cashman said. “But he’s struggled.”
The Yankees bullpen entered Friday with a 4.54 ERA on the season, which was the seventh-highest mark in the majors. Asked what gave him confidence that unit could turn it around, with October fast approaching, Cashman pointed to their track record.
“A lot of talent,” Cashman said. “A lot of guys have done great things over the course of many years. I know what their capabilities are. We’re going to let it play out. But certainly hope.”
Aaron Judge’s home run Friday night marked his 19th in the first inning this year, breaking the MLB single-season record.
The previous mark was held by Judge (in 2024) and Alex Rodriguez (in 2001).
Giancarlo Stanton started in left field Friday in front of the Green Monster, marking his fourth start at the position this season — the other three coming in Houston last week with another smaller left field.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. stole a pair of bases (and was also thrown out trying to steal third), giving him 30 on the season. He is two home runs shy of a 30/30 season.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
