NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 04: Camilo Doval #75 of the New York Yankees looks on during the game against the Miami Marlins at Yankee Stadium on April 4, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images)
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The New York Yankees are counting on their pitching staff to carry them through October, particularly with franchise slugger Aaron Judge potentially sidelined for the remainder of the season.
That has made the club’s bullpen especially important as New York tries to navigate the postseason without its biggest offensive star.
The Yankees reshaped their relief corps throughout the season as usual, making difficult decisions on several pitchers along the way. One of those moves involved Camilo Doval, whose struggles ultimately led New York to send him to the Pittsburgh Pirates despite an All-Star pedigree.
“Doval, a National League All-Star in 2023 when he recorded a league-leading 39 saves, couldn’t establish himself as a trusted late-inning presence in the Bronx,” Andrew Baggarly wrote for The Athletic. “He posted a 4.63 ERA over parts of two seasons before the Yankees sent him to Pittsburgh on Aug. 1 for two minor leaguers.”
Doval enjoyed a strong tenure with the Pirates, posting a 3.79 ERA in 19 innings after that move. But, surprisingly, the Pirates designated him for assignment anyway and now the former Yankees reliever is heading back to the organization where he established himself as a star.
New York Yankees Castoff Returns To Long-Time Home After Latest Cut
On Thursday, the San Francisco Giants claimed Doval off of waivers, giving him an opportunity to revive his career with the club that helped turn him into one of baseball’s hardest-throwing relievers.
“The San Francisco Giants, who need all the help they can get to rebuild an ineffective bullpen, picked up a former All-Star closer with a 100 mph fastball at practically no expense Thursday afternoon,” Baggarly reported. “Yep, Camilo Doval is back.”
Doval’s return represents a striking full circle for a pitcher who once appeared to be a major part of San Francisco’s bullpen future.
He first reached the majors with the Giants in 2021 and quickly became known for elite velocity and late-inning production. He eventually took over the closer role and established himself as one of the team’s most reliable bullpen weapons.
That development culminated in 2023, when Doval earned his first All-Star selection and finished the season with 39 saves, a 2.93 ERA and 87 strikeouts.
His subsequent struggles eventually changed his trajectory, however, and the Yankees acquired him in 2025 before trading him to Pittsburgh this August.
Former New York Yankees Trade Bust Gets Chance To Rebuild San Francisco Giants Career
The Giants now have an opportunity to see whether Doval can rediscover the form that once made him one of the National League’s premier closers at very little cost and with a need to reshape their own bullpen.
“The Giants will seemingly try to get him back on track next year but … entertaining trade offers in the winter is also a possibility,” Darragh McDonald wrote for MLB Trade Rumors. “For now, it’s a very low-cost pickup that gives them some options going into 2027. If they change their mind about tendering him a contract for next year, they can walk away by cutting him on non-tender day in November.”
For Doval, the move provides a familiar setting and another opportunity to turn his career around after an unexpected series of changes. For the Giants, it brings back a pitcher who once looked like a cornerstone of their bullpen at a time when they need more answers heading into 2027.
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