The New York Yankees moved on from a reliever ahead of Monday’s trade deadline, dealing right-hander Camilo Doval to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday in exchange for catching prospect Omar Alfonzo and outfielder Luis Cruz.
Doval, acquired last summer as part of New York’s bullpen rebuild, never found consistent success in the Bronx after posting a 4.54 ERA in 44 appearances this season. Though Doval flashed the overpowering arsenal that once made him one of baseball’s premier closers, his command and inconsistency kept him out of high-leverage situations for much of the season. The 28-year-old remains under team control through 2027, and Pittsburgh will assume roughly $750,000 of the approximately $2 million remaining on his 2026 salary.
In return, the Yankees landed two prospects from the Pirates’ organization. Alfonzo, a 22-year-old left-handed hitting catcher and first baseman, is ranked Pittsburgh’s No. 17 prospect by MLB Pipeline after batting .239 with nine home runs and a .757 OPS in 60 games at Double-A Altoona. Cruz, an 18-year-old outfielder, has hit .313 with an .856 OPS and seven stolen bases in 17 Dominican Summer League games this season.
The Yankees are expected to recall right-hander Yovanny Cruz from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to replace him on the active roster.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to kyle@fingerlakes1.com.