The New York Yankees and Pittsburgh Pirates completed a trade during the final stretch before the MLB trade deadline, with the Yankees sending relief pitcher Camilo Doval to Pittsburgh in exchange for catcher Alfonso and prospect Cruz, along with significant salary relief.
Doval, 29, had struggled in his time with the Yankees since being acquired in a trade the previous summer. He carried a 4.63 ERA with the team, posting a 4.54 ERA across 39⅔ innings during the current season. The pitcher had fallen out of favor with manager Aaron Boone and had been relegated to lower-leverage pitching situations. Despite these performance issues, Doval retained tools that suggested potential for improvement, including a 101 mph fastball and an elite ground ball rate of 57.1%. His expected ERA, which accounts for quality of contact allowed, stood at 3.61, indicating he may not be beyond rehabilitation.
The Pirates acquired Doval with the understanding that they would receive financial assistance with his salary, with the team covering all but $750,000 of the approximately $2 million remaining on his 2026 contract. Doval would remain under Pittsburgh’s control as an arbitration-eligible player in 2027, meaning he was not being acquired as a short-term rental. Pittsburgh’s bullpen ranked 23rd in MLB with a 4.38 ERA and posted a ground ball rate of 40.2%, placing them 22nd league-wide. The addition of Doval was expected to provide late-inning support alongside relievers Mason Montgomery, Gregory Soto, and Yohan Ramírez.
For the Yankees, trading Doval represented a chance to avoid a potential designate-for-assignment move. The organization had considered that option within the preceding week or two but ultimately opted to seek a trade partner. Alfonso, the more notable prospect received, was playing at Double-A with a .239/.420 slash line, though he faced questions about defensive skills. Cruz, an 18-year-old prospect in the Dominican Summer League, represented a longer-term developmental opportunity.
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