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The Giants claimed Doval off waivers from the Pirates on Thursday.
After being designated for assignment by Pittsburgh on Tuesday, Doval will now return to the organization with which he spent his first four-plus seasons in the majors. The 29-year-old righty has turned in a 4.30 ERA and 1.52 WHIP across 58.2 innings with the Yankees and Pirates this season, so he's unlikely to return to his familiar role as the Giants' closer, but he could provide middle-relief help during the team's final four regular-season contests. Blade Tidwell (elbow) was transferred to the 60-day IL in a corresponding move.
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Pirates' Camilo Doval: DFA'd by Pittsburgh
Rotowire
The Pirates designated Doval for assignment Tuesday.
The right-hander was acquired from the Yankees at the trade deadline, but the Pirates have elected to move on during the final week of the regular season after he posted a 3.79 ERA, 1.74 WHIP and 23:14 K:BB across 19 innings after being dealt. Doval could generate some interest on waivers since he's arbitration-eligible for the final time in 2027, but his $6.1 million salary will likely be too rich for most clubs given his 4.23 ERA across the past three regular seasons.
The Yankees traded Doval to the Pirates on Saturday in exchange for minor-leaguers Omar Alfonzo and Luis Cruz, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Doval owns a 4.54 ERA and 1.41 WHIP through 39.2 innings this season and had been losing out on high-leverage work with the Yankees, recording just one hold and no saves in his last 23 appearances. He might not immediately be in the mix for saves upon joining the Pirates, but the 29-year-old's experience as a closer could allow him to climb up the leverage ladder quickly if his performance improves.
Over his past 22 appearances, Doval has just one hold and no saves while posting a 3.98 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and 22:12 K:BB over 20.1 innings.
Doval collected three holds and a save over his first 21 appearances this season, but that came with three blown saves and a 5.40 ERA. Since then, the right-hander has been bypassed in high-leverage situations on numerous occasions, though he's still mostly been deployed in the final three innings of contests. Doval entered the campaign with at least 16 saves in four straight seasons and registered a career-high 10 regular-season holds last year, but he's become a lower-leverage option in 2026, significantly denting his value even in saves-plus-holds fantasy leagues.
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Yankees' Camilo Doval: Fans two, nabs win in relief
Rotowire
Doval (3-0) earned the win over Toronto on Sunday, striking out two batters in a scoreless inning of relief.
Doval entered the game in the bottom of the eighth frame with the score tied 3-3. He kept things that way by retiring the side in order on 15 pitches, with two of his outs coming via punchout. Doval then moved into position for the victory when New York put up five runs in the top of the ninth. The veteran righty has been a high-leverage part of the Yankees' bullpen this season, though he hasn't been a particularly appealing fantasy asset with just one save and three holds. Doval does have three victories, however, and he has a fine 1.16 WHIP and 25:5 K:BB over 26.2 innings despite a poor 5.06 ERA.
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Yankees' Camilo Doval: Logs first save of 2026
Rotowire
Doval earned the save in Tuesday's 5-4 win over the Blue Jays, allowing one run on two hits and a walk in the ninth inning.
David Bednar was used in each of the Yankees' last two games (including Monday's win against Toronto, when he picked up the save), so manager Aaron Boone turned to Doval to close things out Tuesday. He gave up a run on a Vladimir Guerrero sacrifice fly, but Doval escaped the ninth without yielding another run. Doval is unlikely to see many more save opportunities this season as long as Bednar is healthy and effective.
Doval gave up two runs on two hits while striking out one batter over 1.1 innings in relief against the Angels on Monday.
Doval entered with two out, a runner on third base and the score tied 8-8 in the seventh inning. He got out of the jam by getting Logan O'Hoppe to fly out. However, he gave up a leadoff single in the following frame, and two batters later, Mike Trout tagged him for a monstrous 445-foot, two-run homer. That put Doval in line for the loss, but the Yankees were able to take him off the hook with a late comeback. The veteran reliever continues to work in high leverage, but he has just one hold along with a blown save so far this season. He's held the opponent scoreless in six of his nine outings, but in the other three he's given up two runs apiece. Overall, Doval has an unsavory 7.36 ERA along with a 1.23 WHIP and 7:1 K:BB through 7.1 frames.
Doval agreed to a one-year, $6.1 million contract with the Yankees on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Jorge Castillo of ESPN.com reports.
After a disappointing 2024 campaign, Doval bounced back over 69 regular-season appearances between the Giants and Yankees last year, finishing with a 3.58 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 72:35 K:BB in 65.1 innings while recording 16 saves and 10 holds. The right-hander is likely to open 2026 as New York's top setup man ahead of closer David Bednar.
