Ranking the Yankees' 2025 trade deadline deals from best to worst

It may have taken longer than some fans would have liked, but New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman did indeed "go to town" at the July 31 trade deadline, making eight trades in total. The grades are out, but a deeper look is warranted to see how these moves all stack up against one another.

While some might bemoan that a starting pitcher wasn't added, and in fact, one was actually subtracted in the aftermath of the deadline flurry, that has more to do with an inflated market that never gained any real traction.

With a remade bullpen, a new third baseman, and a reinforced bench unit, the Yankees are a better ball club today than the were in the deadline lead-up, but they still fared much better in some trades than in others.

Ranking the Yankees' 8 trade deadline deals from best to worst

1. RP David Bednar for C/1B Rafael Flores, C/1B Edgleen Perez, and OF Brian Sanchez

David Bednar was clearly a player that made a ton of sense for the Yankees, though there was some concern as to whether or not the club would meet his rising price tag. Instead, he was able to be had for much less than expected, making this a huge win for the club.

While Bednar combined with new faces Jake Bird and Camilo Doval for an epic implosion in the trio's first game in pinstripes, one poor performance doesn't erase everything the star closer has done this season. His former manager Derek Shelton isn't wrong when he speaks of everything Bednar brings to the table.

Getting arguably the best reliever on the market without surrendering a top-five prospect in the organization is a huge win, and even more so since Bednar comes with another year of control, helping to solve the bullpen portion of the offseason puzzle. This was the Yankees' best move, even if the initial result wasn't a good one.

2. RP Camilo Doval for RHP Trystan Vrieling, C/3B Jesus Rodriguez, 3B Parks Harber, and LHP Carlos De La Rosa

In the Camilo Doval trade, the Yankees were able to acquire a newly minted 28-year-old with closing experience, 2.5 years of team control, and, with the exception of 2024, a relatively lengthy track record of above-average performance. That alone is a win.

Doing so without giving up a top-15 prospect makes this look even better. The Yankees leveraged what their system is known for, pitching and catching talent, to wrestle away Doval, so they could withstand the loss of these prospects more than most teams.

The two headliners, Trystan Vrieling and Jesus Rodriguez, won't sting as much as you think. Vrieling is the top-ranked youngster going back to San Francisco, but his 4.50 ERA in Double-A leaves much to be desired. Rodriguez is an intriguing player with high contact rates and stellar walk and strikeout numbers, but a lack of power and, more importantly, a defensive home, limit his upside. Even if Doval isn't the most dominant reliever out there, this is a very solid move.

3. 3B Ryan McMahon for LHP Griffin Herring and RHP Josh Grosz

Third base was the Yankees' greatest hole, and the move to acquire former Colorado Rockies third baseman Ryan McMahon was Cashman's first strike of the deadline season, initially drawing very mixed reviews.

McMahon came with some positives, most notably an above-average glove that looked particularly necessary in light of the Yankees' recent defensive struggles. He also came with some warts, like shockingly bad numbers away from the hitters' paradise that is Coors Field and a hefty contract that will cost the Bombers $32 million over the next two seasons.

Those were, and still are, all valid criticisms, but in the short time he's been in the Bronx, McMahon has begun to show that he might have been the best option after all. Southpaw Griffin Herring's impressive run at Hi-A Hudson Valley makes his departure sting a bit, though the jury is very much still out on the raw youngster whose fastball leaves much to be desired.

One final point that dings the deal slightly is the surprisingly cheap price that third baseman Eugenio Suarez went for, given his status as one of the jewels of the deadline. McMahon is certainly a better defender, but Suarez is on a 50-homer pace that would have looked real good in the Bronx.

4. Super Utilityman Ahmed Rosario for RP Clayton Beeter and OF Browm Martinez

A former top prospect for the New York Mets, Rosario never reached his sky-high potential, but still returns to the Big Apple as a very useful piece. His 275/.314/.430 line is the best mark of his career, and his ability to play second, third, and the outfield gives the Yankees the versatility they crave.

Most importantly, Rosario mashes left-handed pitching with a career .800 OPS against southpaws, making him an ideal platoon partner for the lefty-swinging McMahon. Clayton Beeter's inability to establish himself made him a prime offseason casualty as the club looks to protect assets from the Rule 5 Draft, and while Browm Martinez is hitting over .400 in the Dominican Summer League, he's more of a lottery ticket than anything.

5. OF Austin Slater for RHP Gage Ziehl

Given the Yankees' outfield has been arguably their biggest strength, it seemed strange to seem them swing a deal for an outfielder at the deadline. While Aaron Judge hitting the injured list had something to do with that, that's actually not the primary driver of what brought Slater to the Bronx.

Outside of Judge, the Yankee outfield is extremely lefty heavy with Cody Bellinger and Trent Grisham batting from that side. Jasson Dominguez's .572 OPS while batting from the right side makes it questionable if it's even worth throwing him in the lineup against a southpaw.

Slater mashes lefties with a career .797 OPS, making him a perfect fit for an underrated need. Additionally, his .258/.424/.449 mark as a pinch hitter throughout his career makes him a potent weapon off the bench. At the cost of a mid-level pitching prospect, the Yankees did well here to strengthen a hole that many didn't even believe existed.

6. OF Wilberson De Pena and international bonus pool money for INF Oswald Peraza

Oswald Peraza seemed like a surefire goner at the trade deadline, though the likely mechanism was a DFA for the struggling infielder who was out of options. Instead, getting anything of value for him in a trade is a massive win for the Yankees.

To be clear, this isn't much of a return. Wilberson De Pena is a teenage lottery ticket who is currently struggling in the Dominican Summer League, so the real "prize" might be a little extra cash to spend on amateur international free agents. Not much to see here other than getting something in return for the league's worst offensive performer.

7. Utility man Jose Caballero for OF Everson Pereira and a PBTNL/cash

Bonus points for the uniqueness of the deal. Jose Caballero was traded from the Tampa Bay Rays to the Yankees in the middle of a contest between the two division rivals. He can now say that he was on both the winning and losing sides of the same baseball game. Wild.

As for the deal itself, Caballero is your typical light-hitting, glove-first utility man who can play all over the diamond. Unlike the recently departed Oswald Peraza, his bat, while below-average, isn't a complete black hole. That alone makes this a notable upgrade.

Everson Pereira's been mashing at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre as he's been wont to do over the years. Still, the 24-year-old is flirting with a 30% strikeout rate for yet another season, and his short big league stint in 2023 shows how badly his lack of plate discipline can be exposed. As impressive as his Triple-A numbers have been, he simply has the feel of a Quad-A player.

8. RP Jake Bird for 2B Roc Riggio and LHP Ben Shields

If there was one Yankees' deadline deal that left you scratching your head, it's this one. On the plus side, Jake Bird brings with him a 10.57 K/9 and healthy 47% ground ball rate, though that strikeout number is vastly inflated compared to his career norms. On the negative side, with an ERA that now sits at 5.37, those underlying metrics haven't generated much in terms of actual production.

To be fair, Bird comes with three years of team control beyond this season, and also has two minor league options, giving the Yankees flexibility. Getting out of Colorado will also help, and given the Yankees' track record for developing pitchers there's a chance he could flourish in the Bronx.

However, this was a steep price to pay for a reliever with this many question marks. Lefty Ben Shields is an afterthought in this deal, but losing second baseman Roc Riggio really hurts. Riggio's 2025 season has been something of a coming-out party. He started the year at High-A Hudson Valley, where he slashed .264/.436/.597 in 20 games before being promoted to Double-A Somerset. With Somerset, he kept the good times rolling to the tune of a .261/.335/.542 line with 11 homers in 40 games.

You've got to give something to get something, but you have to wonder if the Yankees could have dangled Riggio for a more impressive return.