Baseball
Baseball
Pirates Acquire Former All-Star Doval from Yankees in Bullpen Shake-Up
The New York Yankees have traded right-handed reliever Camilo Doval to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday, ahead of the August 3rd trade deadline. The Yankees will receive minor league catcher Omar Alfonzo and outfielder Luis Cruz in exchange for Doval and cash considerations. Doval’s tenure in New York, which began after he was acquired from the Giants last summer, saw him post a 4.63 ERA overall, including a 4.54 ERA across 39 ⅔ innings this season.
Doval, 29, a former National League All-Star, had fallen out of high-leverage situations with the Yankees, with manager Aaron Boone noting a shift in his role due to both his performance and the rise of other relievers. Despite a 101 mph cutter and a 57.1% ground ball rate, his expected ERA of 3.61 suggested potential that didn’t fully materialize in New York. Boone expressed hope that a fresh start would benefit Doval, who is joining a team in playoff contention.
For the Pirates, Doval represents a low-cost acquisition aimed at bolstering their bullpen. He is expected to join the late-inning relief mix alongside left-handers Mason Montgomery and Gregory Soto, and right-hander Yohan Ramírez, under manager Don Kelly. Pittsburgh has recently employed a closer-by-committee approach, and Doval could potentially earn the full-time role if he performs well.
The Yankees, meanwhile, add to their prospect pool. Alfonso, 22, was ranked as Pittsburgh’s No. 17 prospect by MLB Pipeline and now becomes the Yankees’ No. 27 prospect. Cruz, 18, is currently playing in the Dominican Summer League and was not among the Pirates’ top prospects.
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