All Bullpen, No Starting Pitching

OMG. The Yankees have collected yet another closer. Because nothing says “championship strategy” like hoarding ninth-inning arms like they’re vintage bobbleheads.

According to Jack Curry of YES Network, the Yankees have acquired flamethrowing righty Camilo Doval from the San Francisco Giants. You might know him as “the guy who already had a job finishing games,” but now he’s joining a crowded bullpen where everyone has that same job. So… yay?

Heading back to San Francisco in the deal are catcher/third baseman Jesus Rodriguez, infielder Parks Harber, righty Trystan Vrieling, and lefty Carlos De La Rosa. Four prospects, just to add to the pile of closers like it’s a fantasy baseball draft gone off the rails.

Doval, to his credit, is solid—he posted a 3.09 ERA across 47 appearances, striking out 50 batters in 46 2/3 innings. The guy is electric. No complaints there. But what exactly are we doing here? Let’s take inventory: Devin Williams, David Bednar, Luke Weaver… and now Doval. Is this a bullpen or an arms race?

So where does this leave the rotation? You know, the group of humans actually responsible for starting baseball games? Max Fried and Carlos Rodón are hanging on like exhausted lifeguards at a kids’ pool party, while the rest of the rotation feels like a game of roulette that somehow only lands on “mediocre.”

Aaron Boone, speaking after Thursday’s game against the Rays, tried to make it sound like there’s a plan: Devin Williams is still the closer, and all these other guys will just “fit in around him,” according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. Translation: We have no idea what we’re doing, but it’ll probably work itself out. Maybe. Hopefully.

Let’s be honest—Bednar is better than Williams. So is Doval. Weaver is too. But instead of naming a real hierarchy or building a functional bullpen blueprint, the Yankees are just stacking relievers like Jenga blocks and hoping nobody sneezes.

There’s no identity. No vision. No consistency. The Yankees front office feels like it’s playing MLB: The Show with the “auto-trade” setting on. Boone’s quotes always sound like he’s reading off a cereal box. And as fans, it’s exhausting. You want to root for this team, but they’re making it as hard as possible.

Did the Yankees get better today? Slightly. Marginally. Maybe.

But did they actually address what’s been holding them back? Not even close.

The only thing they’re closing right now is their eyes, hoping this patchwork bullpen monster magically wins October games. Good luck with that.