Yankees Bullpen Struggles Raise Concerns as Roster Decisions Loom

Blown leads and ineffective relief pitching put pressure on the Yankees' front office to make changes.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 9:34am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented baseball game, with overlapping planes of navy blue, white pinstripes, and metallic gold, capturing the disjointed nature of the Yankees' bullpen issues.The Yankees' bullpen struggles have fractured the team's otherwise dominant start to the season, raising questions about the front office's roster decisions.NYC Today

The New York Yankees have the best record in baseball through their first nine games, but the team's bullpen has struggled, blowing multiple leads and ranking 11th in the American League with a 3.23 ERA. The front office is now weighing roster moves, including potentially demoting struggling starters Ryan Weathers and Luis Gil to the bullpen, as well as deciding the fate of Rule 5 draft pick Cade Winquest, who has yet to appear in a regular-season game.

Why it matters

The Yankees' bullpen issues have stood out despite the team's otherwise dominant start, and the front office may need to make aggressive moves to shore up the relief corps before the schedule tightens. The decisions on Weathers, Gil, and Winquest could have significant implications for the team's pitching depth and playoff aspirations.

The details

The Yankees' bullpen has already blown multiple leads, including a 4-3 advantage in the eighth inning of a 7-6 loss to the Miami Marlins on Sunday. Reliever Jake Bird surrendered three earned runs in just one-third of an inning, while Camilo Doval coughed up a two-run lead two days earlier before the Yankees escaped with a 9-7 win. The team's bullpen now ranks 11th in the American League with a 3.23 ERA, a figure already inflated by those costly outings.

  • On April 5, 2026, the Yankees lost 7-6 to the Miami Marlins after the bullpen blew a 4-3 lead in the eighth inning.
  • Two days earlier, on April 3, 2026, the Yankees escaped with a 9-7 win over the Marlins after the bullpen blew a two-run lead in the eighth inning.

The players

Jake Bird

A Yankees reliever who surrendered three earned runs in one-third of an inning, contributing to the team's 7-6 loss to the Marlins on April 5.

Camilo Doval

A Yankees reliever who blew a two-run lead in the eighth inning, though the team ultimately won 9-7 over the Marlins on April 3.

Cade Winquest

A Rule 5 draft pick who made the Yankees' Opening Day roster but has yet to appear in a regular-season game, raising questions about the team's trust in him.

Ryan Weathers

A left-handed starter the Yankees acquired in the offseason, whose struggles have led to speculation that he may be demoted to the bullpen.

Luis Gil

A right-handed starter who is expected to rejoin the rotation soon, putting pressure on Weathers to prove he belongs in a starting role.

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What they’re saying

“Yankees bullpen stinks”

— Anonymous MLB scout

“That tells you not only do they not trust him, but they have no interest in figuring out what he can be.”

— Ryan Garcia, Analyst, Empire Sports Media

“With a 4.50 ERA, the question isn't whether the lefthander is headed to the bullpen at some point. He is. It's can Weathers be trusted in high-leverage situations?”

— Bob Klapisch, Yankees Insider

What’s next

The Yankees are expected to demote both Ryan Weathers and Luis Gil to the bullpen once Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon complete their recoveries from injury, with Will Warren emerging as the permanent No. 5 starter.

The takeaway

The Yankees' bullpen struggles have become a pressing concern, threatening to undo the team's otherwise dominant start to the season. The front office will need to make tough roster decisions, including potentially demoting struggling starters to the bullpen, in order to shore up the relief corps and maintain their position atop the American League East.