The New York Yankees are facing a tough situation in their bullpen, especially with the injury of Fernando Cruz. Once a reliable and high-octane righty, Cruz had an ERA of 2.20 on July 19 but struggled significantly after that, ending up with a 5.93 ERA. His performance took a hit when he was sidelined due to right elbow discomfort, which turned out to be a partial tear in his UCL. This development has left the team without one of their key relievers.

Without Cruz, David Bednar, Paul Blackburn, and Brent Headrick have stepped up, forming a remarkable trio. However, there are concerns about their workload. Tim Hill has faced some challenges but has been effective against left-handed hitters, making him a likely candidate for the playoff roster.

Beyond these four relievers, the Yankees are looking at other options. Manager Aaron Boone acknowledged that there are a few spots still open, as some players have been injured or moved out of contention. Camilo Doval and Jake Bird were sent away during the trade deadline, which was expected to bring in more bullpen help but didn’t deliver as hoped. Kervin Castro is also out of contention after being sidelined by right elbow neuritis, which might require surgery. He has been placed on the 60-day injured list.

For important October innings out of the bullpen, several players are in contention:

Clarke Schmidt

Recovering from Tommy John surgery, Schmidt is working his way back to the Yankees’ bullpen rather than the rotation. His comeback journey was paused by a forearm issue, but he recently threw a live batting practice session, which should lead to a rehab assignment. Given the different elbow and role, Boone isn’t necessarily expecting Schmidt to pitch on back-to-back days this year. Despite this, the Yankees are encouraged by what they’ve seen so far.

“He looked really good [Tuesday],” Boone said. “I’m excited where he’s at.”

Ryan Weathers/Will Warren

One back-end starter was expected to transition to relief by the end of the season, and Weathers’ recent flexor strain made the decision easier. Weathers is currently in a no-throw period that is expected to last two to four weeks. If he can build up quickly, he could become a significant bullpen piece. Warren remains in the rotation, but his downturn and lack of playoff start potential put him in the bullpen discussion.

Angel Chivilli

The hard-throwing righty had started to show promise before an August 3 blowup, which led to a demotion and an IL stint due to “some posterior elbow stuff.” Chivilli had a 0.57 ERA in 14 games before allowing six runs in an inning to the Cardinals. He has begun a throwing program and remains an option.

“So far, so good,” Boone said. “So we’ll see.”

Luis Gil

On the road to recovery from a shoulder injury, Gil is being built up as a reliever. His fastball velocity has increased in shorter bursts. In his first four outings with High-A Hudson Valley and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Gil threw 6 ²/₃ scoreless innings, allowing four hits, walking three, and striking out eight.

“It’s going pretty well,” Boone said. “I feel like his strike-throwing is well. The outings I’ve seen, it looks like the fastball is playing. So we’ve been encouraged with what we’ve seen so far.”

Yerry De los Santos/Ryan Yarbrough

Somewhat overlooked because of their usage—De los Santos in less critical situations and Yarbrough as a long reliever—both have performed well for a team that could grow desperate.

Michael Fulmer/Justin Topa/a veteran to be named later

Fulmer and Topa, both veterans in their 30s, were signed and quickly activated this month, moving from free agents to potential pieces for a team with World Series aspirations. Fulmer impressed immediately, pitching a clean eighth inning, including striking out Yordan Alvarez with his first pitches as a Yankee. He expressed his excitement about joining the Yankees.

“But the possibility exists Fulmer and/or Topa could be DFA’d soon as the club keeps searching. The Yankees will want to quickly find out what the new, old arms can do.”

“They’re probably going to jump in the deep end,” Boone said. “It’s that time of year. And the reality is on any given day … they’re going to find themselves in leverage situations.

“We like some of the traits that some of these guys have and excited about some of the guys we brought in that are going to get an opportunity to try and grab a role.”