MLB Trade Rumors: Projected Trade Sees Yankees Nab Another Closer From NL Team

The New York Yankees have lost their grip on the AL East that they held through the season's first six weeks. They now find themselves 4.0 games back of the Tampa Bay Rays.

With high-leverage relievers David Bednar and Camilo Doval each sporting ERAs above 5.00, it's likely they'll try to firm up the back end of the bullpen once again at this year's trade deadline. In 2025, Bednar and Doval were each brought in, but given the volatility of closers, it's a new year, and new reinforcements are needed.

With that, baseball insider Robert Murray writers, "If last year’s deadline is any indication, then we should expect more bullpen action from the Yankees." He has projected that the Bronx Bombers will go out in July and obtain St. Louis Cardinals breakout closer Riley O'Brien.

Could Yankees trade for Cardinals closer Riley O'Brien?

He has 13 saves this season with a 3.13 ERA, a 1.00 WHIP and an insane 25:3 strikeout to walk ratio in 23 innings.

O’Brien will be one of many options that the Yankees consider. His success, and also his controllability (he’s not a free agent until 2031), make him desirable and an option that New York will surely make a call about. And it’d behoove Cardinals executive Chaim Bloom to get a deal done with the Yankees or anyone involving O’Brien, especially if prices for controllable bullpen pieces continue to be as high as they’ve been in recent seasons.

Of course, the one problem with all of this is that the Cards are actually unexpectedly in the playoff hunt this season. They sit at 28-21, just 2.0 games out of first in the NL Central, and holding a Wild Card spot as well. They might not want to surrender their closer, especially considering he has four more years of team control, as Murray mentioned.

But no doubt the Yankees will come knocking. We'll have to see if the Cardinals answer.