Yankees & Pirates Make Surprise Trade Featuring Camilo Doval, New MLB Rumors Reveal Before Deadline

The Pittsburgh Pirates are bolstering their bullpen amid the club's battle to finish above .500 for the first time in eight seasons.

The Pirates are acquiring relief pitcher Camilo Doval from the New York Yankees in exchange for two prospects, ESPN's Jeff Passan reported Saturday.

The prospects involved in the deal are Omar Alfonzo and Luis Cruz, according to Francys Romero and the New York Post's Jon Heyman.

The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reported the trade is pending medical review. The MLB trade window closes Monday at 6 p.m. ET.

Alfonzo, ranked No. 17 in the Pirates system by MLB Pipeline, most recently played as a catcher for the Double-A Altoona Curve. Cruz has been playing outfield in the Dominican Summer League.

Doval is signed through 2026 and remains under team control through 2027, per Spotrac.

Acquired by the Yankees in a trade with the San Francisco Giants last July, Doval has so far not been able to replicate the efficiency that saw him post a 2.93 ERA and earn an All-Star nod in 2023.

The 29-year-old has posted a 4.54 ERA in 44 appearances, most recently allowing 12 runs (four earned) in eight innings pitched during the month of July.

The Athletic's Brendan Kuty reported Saturday the Yankees pitching staff was working with Doval and "trying to get him on track" as recently as days before the trade.

Doval has overall performed best against right-handed batters, holding them to a .143 batting average as opposed to the .360 BA he's allowed against southpaws.

The Bucs will hope to build on that while adding depth to a bullpen that has so far been one of the least effective in baseball this season. Pirates relievers ranked 23rd in MLB with a combined 4.38 ERA heading into the deadline.

Pittsburgh started out their push to buy at the deadline by acquiring left-hander Brandon Eisert, who has since been assigned to the Triple-A Indianapolis Indiana, from the Chicago White Sox.

The club also added former San Diego Padres right-hander Ron Marinaccio who made three relief appearances for the Pirates in July.

The Bucs will hope these pitching additions will take the club a step closer to its first postseason berth since 2015.