On a warm Sunday afternoon at Yankee Stadium, fans came expecting a sweep, a routine win over the struggling Colorado Rockies. What they got instead was a nail-biter that nearly unraveled in the final innings. The Yankees, boasting a four-run lead, saw their bullpen flirt with disaster yet again. Luke Weaver, usually steady, surrendered a solo homer and three hits in the ninth before finally sealing a 5–4 win. It was supposed to be a sign of relief. Instead, it felt more like the silence before a storm.

This wasn’t a mistake or a minor hiccup, but a part of an ongoing pattern that is becoming increasingly noticeable. The Yankees’ bullpen, which used to be one of their assets but is now displaying signs of fatigue. And Sunday’s close call only adds to the concern. Against a bottom-dwelling Rockies team, New York should’ve coasted. Instead, they got a wake-up call.  So let’s talk about that bullpen.

Jonathan Loaisiga came in hot after a strong return earlier in the week, but he gave up his first run of the season and looked a bit shaky over 1.2 innings. Devin Williams, the marquee addition, threw smoke and got three strikeouts, but not before walking a batter and allowing a hit. These aren’t catastrophic outings, but they’re far from clean. In high-leverage October games, these lapses aren’t forgiven. They’re fatal.

And then there’s Weaver. He entered the ninth looking to close out a comfortable win and left with fans biting their nails. That solo home run marked his first earned run of the season, but it couldn’t have come at a worse time or against a worse team. Credit to him for finishing the job, but the damage to fan confidence? Done.

The offense, thankfully, showed up. Paul Goldschmidt stayed hot—two hits, two runs scored, and the kind of quiet leadership the Yankees hoped for when they brought him in. Aaron Judge, as always, delivered. And promising signs came from youngsters like JC Escarra, who’s making a strong case for more playing time as Jazz Chisholm inches closer to a return.

But here’s the hard truth: you can’t hit your way out of a bullpen collapse every time. If the Yankees want to contend—really contend, they need more than timely bats and veteran swagger. They need stability late in games. Sunday’s scare wasn’t just a fluke, it was a message. And if they’re smart, they’ll answer it before the standings tighten and October arrives.

What comes next: Pressure on the Yankees’ front office

Now that the alarm bells are ringing, all eyes shift to Brian Cashman and the Yankees’ front office. For a team leading the division and eyeing a deep October run, standing still isn’t an option. Sunday’s near-meltdown wasn’t just a bullpen hiccup, it was a preview of what could go wrong when the pressure’s turned up. With the trade deadline creeping closer, the Yankees must ask themselves: Do we have enough late-game firepower to survive a seven-game series against teams like Houston, Baltimore, or even Texas?

The good news? The Yankees have chips to play. Oswald Peraza, who’s stuck behind a crowded infield, still has prospect shine and could headline a package. Everson Pereira or even a struggling Clarke Schmidt could also draw interest. The front office has options, now it’s about flipping them smartly. One name that keeps surfacing is Scott Barlow of the Royals, a proven late-inning reliever who won’t cost top-tier talent. The Marlins’ Tanner Scott, another high-leverage lefty with swing-and-miss stuff, is also on the radar. If the Yankees want to go big, Mason Miller of the A’s is the dream, though it’ll cost a haul.

Adding one or even two of these arms could dramatically change the bullpen dynamic and give Williams and Loaisiga some breathing room. The ripple effect would be huge: Michael Tonkin and Weaver slide into lower-leverage spots where they’re more effective, and Aaron Boone gets more flexibility managing matchups. This isn’t about panic, it’s about being proactive. The Yankees have the roster to win now, but only if the front office recognizes that depth isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity.

October is brutal. It doesn’t forgive shaky bullpens. If Cashman’s serious about No. 28, the time to act is now.