Yankees follow up David Bednar trade with what feels like classic Brian Cashman dud

Editor's Note: This article was written long before the Yankees concluded their trade deadline, which was emphatically a win. Though the return for Bird is still questionable, Brian Cashman succeeded in his efforts to improve New York's roster.

Brian Cashman giveth. Brian Cashman taketh away. The New York Yankees got the fanbase excited when they landed David Bednar in a big trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates, but what followed moments later let a bunch of air out of the balloon.

The Yanks called up the Colorado Rockies again and traded for reliever Jake Bird, who they've apparently had their eye on for a couple weeks now. We're all for adding new bodies to the bullpen, but are we sure this is what's going to help transform an ailing unit?

Bird has a 4.57 ERA, 4.14 FIP and 1.46 WHIP for his career (188 games). He debuted in 2022 and is controllable through the 2028 season, which is likely where Cashman saw the "value". If Matt Blake and Co. can turn him around, then great.

But was it worth the price of No. 10 prospect Roc Riggio, who has been having a very good season at Double-A Somerset? Finally, it appeared as if the Yankees were building a formidable group of top 30 prospects.

Fans have no issue with trading them, either. But the return has to be something that feels like it'll change the Yankees' fortunes. Bird is hardly that. We'll have to wait and see. It just feels like Riggio could've been part of a bigger package to land someone more impactful.

Yankees News: Brian Cashman trades for Rockies reliever Jake Bird

The Yankees have made deals like this before. Think Scott Effross for No. 7 prospect Hayden Wesneski. Think Jack Neely and Ben Cowles for Mark Leiter Jr. Cashman eyed the control that came with those two veterans, but they didn't work out. There are plenty more "nothing for nothing" Cashman dealings we can dig up, but Riggio feels different than the other prospects dealt in those other moves.

It's very possible the Yankees lose this trade. It's also possible Riggio wastes away in Colorado, like so many other prospects who have failed to take the next step there. But with middle infield being a serious need for the Bombers over the next couple years, Riggio's .261 average, .878 OPS, 11 homers, 28 RBI and 7 stolen bases in 40 Double-A games felt like he was on his way to eventually helping the big league roster.

In the meantime, we'll try to remain a bit more optimistic. We all asked for bullpen arms. We all asked for 2026 preparation. Hopefully there's one last trade in the chamber that makes us forget about this and makes the Bird acquisition a bit more meaningful.