ESPN Insider Olney: Yankees’ Top Trade Deadline Priority Is Bullpen Help

By NationalSportsWeb Staff

The New York Yankees are less than a week from the 2026 MLB trade deadline, and ESPN insider Buster Olney has identified the team’s clearest focus: the bullpen. In a report published Wednesday, Olney wrote that bullpen help is the priority for general manager Brian Cashman, and that acquiring a high-leverage reliever would give the Yankees a pitching staff capable of winning in October.

The Yankees have several roster holes—a right-handed-hitting outfielder, a catcher upgrade, and bullpen depth all rank among their needs. But Olney’s reporting, based on conversations with league sources, puts relief pitching at the top of the list. “If the Yankees can get a Miller or a Morejon, they might have the sort of pitching staff that could win in October,” Olney wrote.

Yankees’ bullpen need at the top of the list

The Yankees’ bullpen has been inconsistent in 2026. Closer Clay Holmes has been solid, but the middle relief has struggled with leads and high-leverage situations. The team’s 3.89 bullpen ERA, as of late July, ranks 12th in the American League, and the unit has blown 12 save opportunities. Against a potential playoff opponent like the Baltimore Orioles or Houston Astros, those numbers are a concern.

Olney’s report aligns with what other insiders have been picking up. The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal and MLB Network’s Jon Heyman have both noted the Yankees’ interest in relief arms. The Yankees have been scouting the Padres’ bullpen heavily, and the names Mason Miller and Adrian Morejon have surfaced repeatedly.

Why bullpen is the priority

The Yankees’ rotation, led by Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, and Nestor Cortes, has been strong enough to keep them in the AL East race. But the bullpen has been a weak link in tight games, especially on the road. Adding a power arm who can handle the eighth inning or even close would shorten games and protect the rotation.

Catcher is also a need. The Yankees have gotten below-average production from the position, with Jose Trevino and Austin Wells combining for a .224 average and a 74 wRC+. Ryan Jeffers of the Minnesota Twins and Hunter Goodman of the Colorado Rockies are potential trade targets. But Olney’s sources indicate that the front office views bullpen depth as the more urgent fix.

Potential trade targets

The dream target is Mason Miller, the 27-year-old Padres reliever who has a 2.01 ERA and 68 strikeouts in 48 innings this season. Miller is under club control through 2029, which makes him expensive in trade talks. The Padres have been reluctant to move him, but the Yankees have the prospect capital to make a deal if San Diego decides to sell.

A more realistic target is Adrian Morejon, also with the Padres. Morejon, a left-hander, has a 3.15 ERA and is arbitration-eligible through 2028. The Yankees’ front office is familiar with him from the 2024–2025 offseason, when they briefly discussed a trade.

Other options include Luke Weaver, A.J. Minter, and Brooks Raley, all of the New York Mets. Weaver has a 2.78 ERA in 42 appearances, and Minter gives the Yankees a proven left-handed option. The Mets are out of contention and likely to sell, but they may demand a higher premium for a division rival.

Other needs and trade deadline context

The Yankees are also exploring outfield additions. The right-handed-hitting outfield market includes players like Randal Grichuk and Tommy Pham, though neither is a star. Catcher remains a secondary target, with the Yankees considered a “leading candidate” to acquire Ryan Jeffers from the Twins, according to separate reports.

The trade deadline is Friday, August 1 at 6 p.m. ET. The Yankees have a 2019–2025 history of being active at the deadline, and Cashman has already made one move this year, bringing in infielder J.D. Davis in a minor deal.

What this means for the Yankees’ postseason hopes

The Yankees entered the final week of July with a 61–47 record, 3.5 games behind the Orioles in the AL East. They hold the second AL wild-card spot. Adding a top-tier reliever could push them into the favorite tier in the American League, especially if they can also address the catcher spot.

However, the Padres have held firm on Miller, and the Yankees may need to pivot to Morejon or a Mets reliever. The outcome of the next few days will determine if the Yankees’ pitching staff is truly playoff-ready.

Key facts
| Aspect | Detail |
|——–|——–|
| Source | ESPN insider Buster Olney (via The Sporting News) |
| Yankees’ top priority | Bullpen upgrade |
| Dream target | Mason Miller, Padres (2.01 ERA, 68 K in 48 IP) |
| Realistic target | Adrian Morejon, Padres (3.15 ERA, left-handed) |
| Other needs | Catcher, right-handed-hitting outfield |
| Trade deadline | Friday, August 1, 2026, 6 p.m. ET |

Source: Yahoo Sports, originally published by The Sporting News. Full article: https://www.yahoo.com/articles/espn-insider-reveals-yankees-priority-141852837.html

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