Yankees secure David Bednar from Pirates, acquiring crucial relief pitcher for their bullpen
New York Yankees Bolster Bullpen with Acquisition of Elite Closer David Bednar
The New York Yankees have strengthened their bullpen ahead of the final stretch of the 2025 Major League Baseball season, acquiring David Bednar from the Pittsburgh Pirates before the trade deadline.
Bednar, a 30-year-old right-hander with one more year of control, has been an elite closer this season. He boasts a 2.37 ERA, 17 saves, a 1.105 WHIP, and 51 strikeouts compared to just 10 walks in 42 appearances. Since Memorial Day 2025, he ranks second among MLB pitchers in ERA (minimum 20 innings), showcasing dominant strikeout and control metrics.
Bednar's repertoire includes a high-90s fastball, a hard-breaking curveball, and an effective splitter. His curveball, in particular, has been a force to reckon with, accounting for 21 of his 51 strikeouts this season with a 37.5% whiff rate. This pitch has a putaway rate of 31.8%, making it one of the most effective in the league.
The Yankees' bullpen was a major question mark with two months left in the season, but the acquisition of Bednar addresses this concern. He has been perfect in save opportunities (17-for-17) and recorded a 23-appearance streak without allowing an earned run from May 24 to July 26.
Bednar's impressive performance comes after a challenging 2024 season where he posted a career-worst 5.77 ERA and seven blown saves. However, he has rebounded strongly, returning to his 2021-23 form when he was among the top five relievers in baseball. In 2023, he even led the league with 30 saves and garnered a pair of All-Star appearances.
The trade also saw the departure of Rafael Flores, the Yankees' No. 8 prospect, and Edgleen Perez, the team's No. 14 prospect, who were also part of the deal. Meanwhile, Luke Weaver, who lost the closer job to Bednar but has a 7.07 ERA since returning from injury, was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
In summary, the acquisition of David Bednar adds a valuable asset to the Yankees bullpen. His strong recent performance, career-best advanced metrics, and elite closer status make him a crucial addition to bolster their late-inning relief options.
[1] MLB.com - David Bednar [2] ESPN - David Bednar [3] Baseball Savant - David Bednar [4] Fangraphs - David Bednar
- Recognizing the potential impact of David Bednar, the New York Yankees have added a top-tier reliever to their baseball roster, enhancing their sports prospects for the forthcoming MLB games.
- With his impressive repertoire, stellar statistics this season, and a proven track record in the MLB, David Bednar's acquisition by the New York Yankees could well be the game-changer their sports team needs for the climax of the 2025 Major League Baseball season.
