Yankees bullpen struggles

In early July, Yankees reliever Camilo Doval’s performance deteriorated sharply, surrendering four runs in the 11th inning of a loss to Detroit. The outing highlighted season‑long issues – a sub‑5.00 ERA, elevated WHIP and a low strand rate – and sparked debate over the club’s late‑inning options as the team slid to a seven‑game losing streak.

A few days later, reports emphasized the persistence of Doval’s troubles. Against the Minnesota Twins he allowed additional runs and a career‑high six homers in just 27.2 innings, while left‑handed hitters continued to excel against him. Manager Aaron Boone remained supportive but the Yankees were actively exploring trade‑deadline moves to shore up the bullpen amid a broader stretch of losses and injury‑related instability.

By July 5, Doval’s ERA had risen to roughly 4.7 and he had given up six home runs in 27.2 innings, while left‑handed batters posted a .951 OPS against him. The Yankees, amid a nine‑loss stretch in ten games, continued to evaluate bullpen depth as injuries compounded the challenges.

On July 26, the Pittsburgh Pirates expressed interest in acquiring Doval, proposing a deal that could see the Yankees retain part of his $6.1 million 2025 salary. Doval now carries a 4.85 ERA over 63 appearances and has one year left on his contract before free agency in 2029. Boone indicated no decision has been reached, but the club remains open to moving him if a satisfactory return emerges.