Yankees’ Top Internal Bullpen Options for 2026 Season

The New York Yankees head into the upcoming season with way more questions than answers in their bullpen. This used to be a real strength for the organization, but now the relief corps looks stripped down after a wave of free-agent losses, non-tenders, and the usual roster churn.

There’s still some intriguing talent in the system and a handful of established names. But honestly, it’s a lopsided group—top-heavy, and then things thin out fast.

Offseason Attrition Leaves Bullpen Exposed

The Yankees’ bullpen overhaul started with departures, not splashy signings. Free agency took Devin Williams and Luke Weaver off the board, and the club decided not to tender Jake Cousins, Scott Effross, Mark Leiter Jr., or Ian Hamilton.

They also declined Jonathan Loaisiga’s club option, and Allan Winans left to pitch in Japan.

They did manage to bring back Tim Hill and kept Ryan Yarbrough and Paul Blackburn around as depth. But honestly, those moves just patch innings rather than replace any real star power.

That leaves Aaron Boone with a pretty thin set of proven options late in games.

The Trusted High-Leverage Core

At the top, you’ve got David Bednar and Fernando Cruz—the only truly established late-inning guys. Bednar’s reliable, and Cruz has that swing-and-miss stuff that makes him a natural setup man.

Camilo Doval is still in the mix, though his first year in New York was rocky enough to make you wonder about his reliability.

Arms with Upside, but Plenty of Risk

Beyond those two, the Yankees are betting on pitchers with interesting tools but real question marks. Jake Bird, who came over at the 2025 trade deadline, kind of sums up the group. His breaking ball and curve can miss bats, but his sinker doesn’t play and his command wobbled, so he struggled in the Bronx and ended up back in Triple-A.

Lefty Depth and Role Limitations

Brent Headrick put up wild strikeout numbers in 2025—a 32.6% strikeout rate jumps off the page. But he also gave up a ton of hard contact and had reverse splits, so he probably fits as a depth lefty behind Tim Hill instead of a true matchup weapon.

Rule 5 Gambles and Groundball Specialists

Rule 5 pick Cade Winquest is probably headed for low-leverage work if he sticks. He split 2025 between High-A and Double-A, and his strikeout and walk rates were just okay—definitely more of a project than someone you’d want pitching big innings right away.

Yerry De los Santos found a niche by getting ground balls and keeping the ball in the park in his limited MLB time. That’s useful, but his strikeout and walk numbers lag, and he doesn’t have much roster flexibility, so he’s more of a depth piece.

Prospects Waiting in the Wings

The Yankees did the smart thing and protected Elmer Rodriguez and Chase Hampton on the 40-man. Rodriguez reached Triple-A with a sharp 2.58 ERA and a 29% strikeout rate, so he’s knocking on the door.

Hampton, though, is coming off Tommy John surgery and probably won’t be an option for the bullpen right away.

• Proven late-inning arms: Bednar, Cruz
• Upside with risk: Doval, Bird, Headrick
• Depth roles: Hill, Yarbrough, De los Santos, Winquest

What Comes Next for the Yankees?

The Yankees probably aren’t finished building this roster just yet. Affordable veteran middle relievers could steady those tricky middle innings.

Adding a proven lefty like Andrew Chafin might bring some balance to the bullpen. On the trade side, a high-leverage arm like JoJo Romero of the Cardinals would help close the gap after Bednar and Cruz.

Right now, the Yankees’ bullpen feels like a work in progress. They lean hard on two arms and hope someone steps up from within to cover the rest.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Looking At The Yankees’ Internal Bullpen Options