Jake

Bird

Bird will join the Yankees bullpen with David Bednar headed to the paternity list. Bird has a 4.88 ERA and a 27/7 K/BB ratio in 24 innings this season. He’ll slot in somewhere in middle relief.

The move makes room for Sunday’s spot starter, Elmer Rodríguez. Bird has a 27/7 K/BB in 24 innings for the Yankees this season, but it’s only gotten him a 4.88 ERA. He’ll be back.

Jake Bird is being sent down. The Yankees are in the midst of a long stretch without a day off, so they wanted to give their starters some extra rest. Cole will now face the Tigers in Detroit, rather than the Reds at home. It also sets up Cam Schlittler to pitch Thursday in Boston, rather than Wednesday in Detroit.

Ryan Weathers was placed on the Paternity List but should be back for his scheduled start, so the Yankees will add an extra reliever for the time being.

Bird earned a ticket back to the minors after struggling to an inflated 7.71 ERA across seven innings to open the season. The final straw was likely Monday’s relief outing against the Angels where he allowed three runs in his lone inning of work courtesy of a gargantuan homer by Mike Trout. The 30-year-old came over from the Rockies in a trade deadline deal last July.

Bird came over from the Rockies at the deadline and was brutal for the Yankees, allowing seven runs (six earned) on four hits in two innings. He has shown the ability to miss bats during his years in Colorado, so he remains an intriguing arm in the middle relief for the Yankees.

Bird has not gotten off the ground in his Yankees career after being acquired at the deadline. He has allowed seven runs (six earned) in two innings across three games, including allowing two huge home runs. The Yankees will keep him in the nest for a bit and hope to help him fly better over the final month of the season. Mark Leiter Jr. is expected to be activated off the IL tonight.

The Yankees led 9-4 in the seventh inning before turning the gave over to Bird, who was making his first appearance for the Yankees since being acquired before Thursday’s trade deadline. Bird allowed a grand slam to Kyle Stowers, which got the Marlins back in the game. David Bednar and Camilo Doval followed Bird with each entering the ballgame with the lead and being charged with a blown save. The Yankees’ new bullpen acquisitions all fell flat in their debuts.

The 29-year-old right-hander has registered a 4.73 ERA and 62/23 K/BB ratio across 53 1/3 innings with the Rockies this season. He’ll add another talented right-handed arm to an already stacked Yankees’ bullpen. With Devin Williams, Luke Weaver and David Bednar working in high-leverage situations, look for Bird to see most of his work in the middle innings.

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports Roc Riggio and Ben Shields will head to Colorado in the deal. Bird gives the Yankees some middle-inning help as a 29-year-old right-hander who has posted a 4.73 ERA over 53 1/3 innings with a 62/23 K/BB ratio to go with it. He likely won’t get save chances, so there’s not much relevance here in any fantasy formats.