David Bednar gets the save in his debut as the Yankees beat the Marlins 5-2 on Aug 1. See how the new closer and an Aaron Judge HR sealed the statement win.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
The New York Yankees didn't just win a baseball game on Friday; they sent a message to the rest of the league. Hours after a flurry of trades to overhaul their bullpen, headlined by the acquisition of All-Star closer David Bednar, the pinstripes watched their new weapon take the mound in the 9th and promptly lock down a 5-2 victory over the Marlins. It was a statement win fueled by a reloaded roster, a dominant Carlos Rodón, and a classic Aaron Judge moonshot.
I know we’ve got some high-powered guys now to go with what’s already a pretty good flock of guys.
The biggest splash of the day was the blockbuster deal for two-time All-Star closer David Bednar from the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Yankees sent a package of prospects including Rafael Flores, Edgleen Perez, and Brian Sanchez to land the dominant righty, who boasted a 2.41 ERA and 17 saves. Just hours after the trade was announced, Bednar was on the mound at loanDepot park, tossing a scoreless 9th inning for his first save as a Yankee. Manager Aaron Boone praised the moves, noting the team's recent challenges in the late innings. 'Shortening the game’s been a little bit of a challenge for us over the last month and a half,' Boone said. 'I feel we have some real depth down there now.'
While the trades stole the headlines, Carlos Rodón delivered the performance that put the team in a position to win. The lefty was masterful over seven innings, allowing just two earned runs while striking out eight and walking only one, improving his record to 12-7. The offense provided the necessary punch, led by Aaron Judge's go-ahead, two-run homer in the 6th inning—his 34th of the season. Gleyber Torres was a key contributor as well, racking up three hits and driving in two runs to pace the attack.
General Manager Brian Cashman wasn't done with just one bullpen arm. The team also acquired right-handed reliever Jake Bird from the Colorado Rockies and traded infielder Oswald Peraza to the Los Angeles Angels. The Peraza deal, which brought back 18-year-old outfield prospect Wilberson De Peña, clears an infield logjam while adding a high-upside talent to the farm system. Bird adds another experienced arm to the bullpen mix. To make room on the active roster for the new arrivals, relievers Yerry de los Santos and Ian Hamilton were optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
With the trade deadline in the rearview mirror, the Yankees have clearly defined their path forward. They've fortified a weakness, added power arms, and didn't subtract from the major league roster. After a statement win in Miami, the message is clear: this team is all-in on a deep postseason run. The 61-49 Yankees now have the pieces in place; the only thing left to do is win.
