With another series defeat in Texas, the New York Yankees are now 27-33 since May 29 and have lost five of their last six games. These defeats are not only pushing them behind their division rivals, the Red Sox and Blue Jays, but also slowly ending their postseason hopes. Beyond the sloppy play, the Yankees’ biggest red flag right now is their pitching. And if their latest roster decision is any indication, skipper Aaron Boone might just be setting the stage for a crucial turnaround.

In a game charged with tension, recent acquisition David Bednar stepped up as a crucial figure, helping the Yanks seal a hard-fought win. And, his performance may have done more than just lock in a win. It may have given the front office the confidence to move on from underperforming arms and begin shaping a leaner, meaner lineup built for the stretch run.

In what came about as a surprising announcement, the Yanks confirmed the release of the right-handed pitcher JT Brubaker on Thursday. The move came just days after the Yankees designated Brubaker for assignment, highlighting the team’s ongoing push to shore up a shaky bullpen as August gets off to a rough start. Brubaker was cut after tossing 16 innings across 12 relief outings this season, putting up a 3.38 ERA. And that’s arguably his best stretch in the majors since he broke in with the Pirates back in 2020.

Brubaker, who did not play the 2023 season due to Tommy John surgery, joined the Bombers in 2024 only, but made his Pinstripes debut this season. Although on paper, the numbers looked solid, a deeper dive raised some red flags. His strikeout rate was at just 15.9%, while he walked 14.3% of batters, both well below league norms.

Brubaker’s release comes at a time after the Yankees went aggressive on the trade deadline and secured two bullpen arms from across the league: Veteran David Bednar from the Pirates, Jake Bird from the Rockies, and Camilo Doval from the Giants.

Yankees’ turnaround might have played its part

After landing Bednar from the Pirates at the trade deadline, the Yankees knew he’d need a bit of time to settle in. Expectedly, his first couple of outings were a bit shaky. But on Wednesday, Bednar finally showed why the team was so keen on him, as he helped the Yankees snap a five-game losing streak on Wednesday with a 3-2 win over the Rangers.

The 30-year-old became the first Yankees pitcher to record a save of five or more outs with every out being a strikeout since Hall of Famer Goose Gossage did it on May 14, 1982, against the Oakland Athletics.

Bednar’s emergence helps explain why the Yankees might have cut ties with JT Brubaker. The right-hander was let go just a week after the team aggressively retooled its bullpen, not only grabbing Bednar but also bringing in Jake Bird and Camilo Doval. Clearly, the front office is done waiting around and is going all-in on revamping a bullpen that’s struggled to find its footing all season.

Even with the new bullpen additions, though, the Yankees have lost five of six games since the trade deadline. But Bednar certainly offers a ray of hope!