A trade deadline does not have to be executed perfectly to be effective.

Yankees GM Brian Cashman’s actions on and around July 31 will not be fully judged until October — and later with several players under team control — but the early returns have helped the Yankees get where they want to go.

Don’t miss Greg Joyce’s text messages from The Bronx and beyond — he’s giving Sports+ subscribers the inside buzz on the Yankees.

On Tuesday it was José Caballero coming up with the walk-off RBI single to punch the postseason ticket for the Yankees.

David Bednar entered play Wednesday with a 2.49 ERA and eight saves since coming over from Pittsburgh, the best member of the Yankees bullpen.