ARLINGTON, Texas — In yet another sign that nothing is going right for the sinking New York Yankees, the club on Tuesday demoted struggling right-hander Jake Bird, one of the three relievers they acquired at last week’s trade deadline to boost the bullpen.
Bird surrendered the walk-off, three-run home run in the 10th inning to the Texas Rangers’ Josh Jung in an 8-5 loss Monday night at Globe Life Park. He also was rocked for four earned runs while getting just one out in his debut with the team Friday night in Miami, where all three new bullpen members struggled in a loss. Overall, he has a 27.00 ERA in three appearances with the Yankees.
WALK-OFF BOMB FROM THE JUNGSTER! #AllForTX pic.twitter.com/xtT4ddBHiN
— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) August 5, 2025
The Yankees didn’t say who they would recall to take Bird’s place in the bullpen. Though Bird didn’t pitch Sunday, the Yankees used him three times in four days and he likely wouldn’t have been available Tuesday night. So, they appear to want a fresh arm from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
The Yankees acquired Bird, 29, from the Colorado Rockies in exchange for two minor leaguers — second baseman Roc Riggio and pitcher Kevin Shields. They brought in Bird alongside David Bednar from the Pittsburgh Pirates and Camilo Doval from the San Francisco Giants to help fortify the late and middle innings of their relief unit, which has not been good of late, posting a 5.03 ERA since June 13 — the fifth-highest mark in the majors.
Monday’s loss was particularly devastating. It came after closer Devin Williams blew the save by giving up a solo shot to pinch hitter Joc Pederson in the ninth inning, and it immediately followed a three-game sweep at the hands of the Marlins on the road. The Marlins had never before swept the Yankees.
The Yankees have slowly been losing their grip on a playoff position. They’re tied for the second wild-card spot, 2 1/2 games behind the Boston Red Sox for the first seed. In the American League East, they’re in third place, 5 1/2 games behind the leading Toronto Blue Jays. They’re 18-28 since June 13 — the fifth-worst mark in the game.
(Photo of Bird: Jerome Miron / Imagn Images)
