The Yankees have more questions to answer after their October exit

In the end, the bullpen wasn’t the Yankees’ complete undoing.

For most of the season, the group — which has always been a force the past several seasons — threatened to derail them.

The relief team was vulnerable to explosions during July.

General manager Brian Cashman made several moves at the trade deadline to import enough talent to form a theoretical super-game, though that degree of power never came to fruition.

In October, the group was shallower than hoped as Luke Weaver faced the issue of a pitch change and the adjustments that came with it.

However, what became manager Aaron Boone’s circle of trust — David Bednar, Devin Williams, Fernando Cruz, Tim Hill, and Camilo Duval — combined to allow three earned runs in 20 playoff innings (1.35 ERA), a much better performance than the rotation affected in the Division Series loss to the Blue Jays.

“It’s a really talented group,” Bednar said during the wild-card series against the Red Sox. “I think we’re just finding a way.”

The Yankees will likely lose several pieces this winter, and they will have to continue to find a way.

After two excellent seasons overall, Weaver will hit free agency and will be able to make money somewhere.

It’s possible Weaver could market himself as a starter the way Clay Holmes did.

Regardless, he will get much more than the $2.5 million he received in the 2025 club option.

Williams will hit the open market after a strange season in which he started poorly, lost his closing job, stumbled but typically pitched well as a setup man and threw 3 ²/₃ scoreless innings in the postseason.

His blemish was a Nathan Lukes double-run single that followed a Jazz Chisholm Jr. error. In Game 4 against Toronto.

“I thought (my season) was pretty good overall, to be honest,” said Williams, who finished the year with a 4.79 ERA but with particularly strong strikeout and walk rates. “At the end of the day, I think it was in line with what I’ve done in the past, except for some tough plays. I feel like I contributed.”

Williams, who admitted it was a “challenge” early in his tenure in the Pinstripes, said he’s open to a reunion.

In Weaver and Williams, the Yankees will likely lose two of their most talented relief pieces.

Others joining free agency include Ryan Yarbrough and Paul Blackburn.

They will likely be joined by Jonathan Loisiga, who the Yankees have a $5 million option.

The Yankees also have an option on Hill, which could be brought back for $3 million.

Hill will join the current group led by Bednar, Duvall and Cruz.

Mark Leiter Jr., who was left out of the ALDS roster, would be owed about $3 million in arbitration if a contract is offered.

Additional relievers include Jake Cousins, Ian Hamilton, and Scott Efros.

Relievers such as Yerry De los Santos and Brent Headrick have not yet qualified.

There is depth within this group, but little overwhelming upside.

The highest-octane arm to get the ball to Bednar likely belongs to Duvall, who was an All-Star with the Giants in 2023 and had two uneven numbers 24 and 25 that included a demotion to Triple-A before being sent to The Bronx at the deadline.

The 28-year-old had all sorts of issues with the Yankees during his first six weeks with the team, posting a 6.59 ERA, but his last six regular-season appearances were scoreless.

Then he allowed 1 run in 3 innings ¹/₃ OCT.

“I feel like he’s gotten to a good place of being confident in his role and getting into different types of lanes,” pitching coach Matt Blake said of Duvall, who had to adapt to a new role with the Yankees that increased his use of the cutter. “He’s confident and aggressive. That’s a good version of Camilo.”

Is this version reliable enough to return as the second most reliable reliever in the bullpen?

The Yankees will have many questions to answer this season.