The New York Yankees thought they significantly upgraded their bullpen at the trade deadline, but that hasn’t been the case — and now a newly-acquired reliever has been demoted.
Jake Bird is being optioned to Triple-A pic.twitter.com/fTFfPthEJu
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) August 5, 2025
The Yankees announced Tuesday that left-hander Jake Bird, whom they obtained from the Colorado Rockies last Thursday, has been optioned to Triple-A Wilkes-Barre. The move comes after he surrendered a walk-off three-run home run to Josh Jung in New York’s 10-inning loss to the Texas Rangers, 8-5, on Monday night.
Josh Jung mashes a walk-off homer as the Yankees suffer ANOTHER demoralizing loss pic.twitter.com/3FrVGenNay
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) August 5, 2025
In three games since arriving in the Bronx, Bird has allowed six earned runs and two home runs in just two innings, including four earned runs in his very first appearance for the Yankees during their 13-12 loss to the Miami Marlins on Friday night. Before the trade, the four-year veteran posted a 4.73 ERA in 45 appearances with the Rockies.
Bird isn’t the only new Yankee reliever struggling. David Bednar has surrendered two earned runs and four hits, including a home run, in 2 2/3 innings across two games, while Camilo Doval has allowed three runs — one earned — on two hits in 1 1/3 innings over two appearances.
This isn’t what the Yankees envisioned when they acquired these three pitchers ahead of last Thursday’s trade deadline. Bednar was supposed to form a formidable backend trio alongside Luke Weaver and Devin Williams, while Bird and Doval were expected to provide depth in the middle innings.
With Bird optioned, Mark Leiter Jr. will be reinstated from the injured list and take his roster spot, according to the New York Post.
It’s unclear how long Bird will remain in the minors.
