The New York Yankees are aiming to add some bullpen help before the buzzer, with a new trade deadline rumor pegging them as frontrunners for a sought-after reliever.
The Yankees were reportedly interested in Pittsburgh Pirates closer David Bednar, and The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported on Thursday that the Bronx Bombers were closing in on him. While Bednar’s addition could help shore up the bullpen for the team’s playoff push this season, he could also play a big role in the coming season with the team set to lose two major pieces of the bullpen.
Yankees Planning for the Future
Rosenthal reported in the hours before the Thursday evening trade deadline that the Yankees were engaged in talks with the Pirates about Bednar and considered the frontrunner to land him.
“The Yankees and Pirates are discussing a trade involving Bednar, according to sources briefed on the discussions. An official from one team involved in the pursuit of Bednar believes the Yankees are the front-runner,” Rosenthal wrote.
Rosenthal added that Bednar would be a cost-efficient addition, especially in the midst of a resurgent season for the veteran reliever.
“Bednar, who turns 31 in October, is earning $5.9 million and under club control through next season,” Rosenthal wrote. “He is enjoying a bounceback campaign with the Pirates, with 51 strikeouts and a 2.37 ERA in 38 innings.”
Rosenthal added that Bednar could serve an important role in the future, with the Yankees set to lose top relievers Devin Williams and Luke Weaver to free agency. Bednar, Rosenthal suggested, would be “a high-leverage arm who is under club control beyond this season.”
Yankees Reluctant About Overpaying for Bullpen Help
While the Yankees are expected to seek more bullpen help ahead of the MLB trade deadline, one insider believes the team is reluctant about overpaying. SNY’s Andy Martino reported that the team does not want to part ways with any of its core young prospects — Jasson Domínguez, Ben Rice, Spencer Jones, George Lombard Jr. and or Cam Schlittler
“Conundrum Yankees are facing is trying to get an impact reliever without giving up a Dominguez/Rice/Jones/Lombard/Schlittler. So far been tough,” Martino wrote.
SI.com’s Jack Markowski noted that some other World Series contenders have already set the market high for relief help. The Philadelphia Phillies sent catcher Eduardo Tait and right-handed pitcher Mick Abel to the Minnesota Twins to land closer Jhoan Duran, giving the Twins new No. 4 and No. 6 overall prospects.
“The New York Mets, meanwhile, gave the St. Louis Cardinals their new No. 6 and 15 farmhands in Jesus Baez and Nate Dohm, respectively, as part of a package for reigning National League Reliever of the Year Ryan Helsley,” Markowski added.
Markowski suggested the Yankees would not escape without paying a similarly high price.
“Those two moves paint a picture of what it would take for the Yankees to acquire a premier reliever before the 6:00 p.m. deadline passes,” Markowski wrote. “If the team has their sights set on bringing in Pittsburgh Pirates closer David Bednar, Minnesota Twins right-hander Griffin Jax or Athletics flamethrower Mason Miller, who are under control through 2026, 2027 and 2029, respectively, than they’ll likely have to eat the cost and be comfortable with ceding valuable assets.”
Yankees Trade Deadline Rumor Links Team to $5.9 Million ‘High-Leverage Arm’