The flexor might not be directly involved with swinging a bat, but high-velocity throws are a killer. Nestor Cortes’ career with the Yankees was never the same after his flexor was damaged. Jake Cousins learned the hard way, too.

On a day that Aaron Boone described as exciting for some players and anxious for others, the Yankees took care of business on the field with the trade deadline looming over them.

The Yankees rode an early offensive eruption to a 7-4 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday afternoon, though they had to wait through a nearly three-hour weather delay to finish off the series-clinching victory in the Bronx.

The New York Yankees acquired Pittsburgh Pirates closer David Bednar on Thursday. The Pirates received catching prospects Rafael Flores and Edgleen Perez and outfielder Brian Sanchez. The 30-year-old closer was one of the top relief pitchers on the market this year.

With the Yankees needing help in the bullpen, the team will reportedly get David Bednar in a trade with the Pirates before the 2025 deadline.

Oswald Peraza’s failed Yankees tenure is over. But the Yankees replaced him with a new utilityman — from the opposing dugout — in Caballero. They traded Peraza to the Angels just ahead of the deadline Thursday in exchange for outfield prospect Wilberson De Pena and international money.