The New York Yankees have acquired closer David Bednar from the Pittsburgh Pirates, according to sources who spoke with ESPN’s Jeff Passan on Thursday. The trade is contingent upon a successful medical evaluation.
This acquisition addresses a significant need for the Yankees, whose bullpen has struggled recently. Entering Thursday, Yankees relievers posted a collective 6.29 ERA in July, the second-worst mark in Major League Baseball for the month, trailing only the Colorado Rockies (7.01). Bednar, a 30-year-old right-hander, offers a proven track record and cost-effective contract. He is currently earning $5.9 million this season and remains under team control through arbitration before perhaps becoming a free agent after the 2026 season.
Bednar has demonstrated elite swing-and-miss stuff as returning from Triple-A in mid-April. In his last 24 appearances through Wednesday, he recorded 29 strikeouts against just five walks, allowing only one earned run. For the current season, Bednar has accumulated 17 saves with a 2.37 ERA and 51 strikeouts,while issuing only 10 walks.These numbers represent career bests in both strikeout and walk rates.
He has significantly improved upon his performance in 2024, when he posted a 5.77 ERA with a 3-8 record, 23 saves, and seven blown saves. Bednar has recaptured the form that established him as one of baseball’s top relievers from 2021 to 2023. His pitching arsenal includes a fastball in the high-90s, a sharp-breaking curveball, and a potent splitter.
In exchange for Bednar, the Pirates are receiving catcher Rafael Flores and 19-year-old outfielder Edgleen Perez. Flores has impressed at the minor league level, excelling in Double-A before his promotion to Triple-A. He is recognized as a highly skilled framer and is considered big-league ready. Perez, rated as the New York Yankees’ 10th-best prospect by ESPN, is noted for his excellent swing decisions.
ESPN’s Kiley mcdaniel contributed to this report.
