Ultimately, the bullpen wasn’t entirely the Yankees’ downfall.
For much of the season, the group – almost consistently strong in recent seasons – had threatened to derail them.
The relief corps was too sensitive to eruptions until July.
General manager Brian Cashman made several moves at the trade deadline to import enough talent to form a theoretical super bullpen, though that level of strength never came to fruition.
In October, the group was less deep than hoped when Luke Weaver struggled with a pitch-tipping issue and the adjustments that came with it.
But what became manager Aaron Boone’s circle of trust — David Bednar, Devin Williams, Fernando Cruz, Tim Hill and Camilo Doval — combined for three earned runs in 20 playoff innings (1.35 ERA), a far better performance than the rotation that was dented in the division series loss to the Blue Jays.
“It’s a very talented group,” Bednar said during the wild-card series against the Red Sox. “I guess we’ll just find a way.”
The Yankees could potentially lose several pieces this winter and will have to continue to find a way.
After two generally excellent seasons, Weaver will hit free agency and should be able to make money somewhere.
It’s possible Weaver markets himself as a starter, as Clay Holmes successfully did.
Either way, he will receive much more than the $2.5 million he earned on a club option for 2025.
Williams will hit the open market after a strange season in which he started poorly, lost his last job, stumbled but generally pitched well as a setup man and threw 3 ²/₃ scoreless innings in the postseason.
His blemish was Nathan Lukes’ two-run single that followed Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s error. in Game 4 against Toronto.
“I think in general [my season] was pretty good, to be honest,” said Williams, who finished his year with a 4.79 ERA but with particularly strong strikeout and walk rates. “Ultimately, I think it was in line with what I’ve done in the past, other than a few blown outings. I feel like I contributed.”
Williams, who acknowledged in pinstripes at the start of his tenure that it was a “challenge,” said he was open to a reunion.
In Weaver and Williams, the Yankees could potentially lose two of their most talented relief pieces.
Among the others who have reached free agency are Ryan Yarbrough and Paul Blackburn.
They will likely be joined by Jonathan Loáisiga, who the Yankees have a $5 million option on.
The Yankees also have an option on Hill, who can be brought back for $3 million.
Hill would join an incumbent group led by Bednar, Doval and Cruz.
Mark Leiter Jr., who was not on the ALDS roster, would owe approximately $3 million in arbitration if he were to tender a contract.
Additional arbitration decisions include Jake Bird – who bombed after the trade from Colorado but started to establish himself with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre – Jake Cousins, Ian Hamilton and Scott Effross.
Not yet eligible are relievers like Yerry De los Santos and Brent Headrick.
There is depth within this group, but little overwhelming upside.
The highest-octane arm to get the ball to Bednar probably belongs to Doval, who was an All-Star with the Giants in 2023 and had an uneven ’24 and ’25, including a demotion to Triple-A before being sent to The Bronx at the deadline.
The 28-year-old had all kinds of problems with the Yankees during his first six weeks with the team, posting a 6.59 ERA, but his last six regular season appearances were winless.
He then allowed one run in 3 ¹/₃ October innings.
“I feel like he’s at a good point where he’s confident in his role and coming in, on different types of jobs,” pitching coach Matt Blake said of Doval, who had to adjust to a new role with the Yankees and increased his cutter usage. “He’s confident and aggressive. That’s a good version of Camilo.”
Is that version reliable enough to return as the second-most trusted reliever in the bullpen?
The Yankees will have a lot of questions to answer this season.
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