Yankees Make Surprise Bullpen Upgrade with High-Leverage Arm
In a move that caught many around the league off guard, the New York Yankees have added another high-leverage reliever to their already formidable bullpen. On Monday afternoon, the team announced the acquisition of right-hander Scott Barlow from the San Diego Padres in exchange for a mid-level prospect, reinforcing their bullpen depth as they gear up for a postseason push.
Barlow, 31, has been one of the more under-the-radar late-inning arms in recent years. After a breakout stretch with the Kansas City Royals, he spent the first half of 2024 in San Diego, where he posted a 2.95 ERA with a 1.12 WHIP and 12.4 strikeouts per nine innings. Known for his sharp-breaking slider and fearless approach against both righties and lefties, Barlow is expected to slot in as a key setup man behind Yankees closer Clay Holmes.
This move signals the Yankees’ commitment to building a shutdown bullpen — a hallmark of their recent postseason teams. With Michael King traded in the offseason and Jonathan Loáisiga dealing with ongoing injury concerns, Barlow gives manager Aaron Boone a much-needed boost of stability and experience late in games.
“Scott’s a guy we’ve had our eye on for a while,” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said in a press release. “He brings swing-and-miss stuff, postseason experience, and the kind of mentality we value in tight spots.”
While the Yankees bullpen currently ranks in the top five in ERA, Cashman and the front office clearly saw room to improve — especially with October baseball looming. Barlow’s arrival creates a dynamic late-game trio with Holmes and left-hander Wandy Peralta, and could allow Boone to better manage workloads across the stretch run.
The cost wasn’t steep, either. The Yankees sent right-handed pitching prospect Zach Messinger — ranked outside their top 20 — to the Padres. Messinger, 25, has shown flashes of promise but struggled with command in Double-A this season.
As the Yankees fight to hold off the Orioles and Rays in a tight AL East race, this addition could prove pivotal. Games in September and October are often won by bullpens, and New York just added another weapon capable of getting critical outs when it matters most.
Barlow is expected to be available immediately and could make his Yankees debut as soon as this week.