At long last, the Yankees have made a bullpen splash. New York acquired Pirates closer David Bednar on Thursday, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
Let’s break down the deal for each side and hand out grades for both clubs.
New York Yankees Grade: A+
With mere hours remaining in the MLB Trade Deadline, it was fair to wonder if the Yankees were done making moves. New York added hitters Ryan McMahon, Amed Rosario and Austin Slater. However, pitching remains the team’s biggest need. A combination of injuries and inconsistent performance on the mound have hindered the Pinstripes since June. That’s especially true in the bullpen, where offseason acquisition Devin Williams has been a major disappointment (5.01 ERA). New York is tied for baseball’s ninth-worst bullpen ERA this season (4.24).
Enter David Bednar. Despite pitching for a subpar Pirates squad, the two-time All-Star has established himself as one of baseball’s top relievers. In four of the right-hander’s last five seasons, he’s notched an ERA of 2.61 or lower. Now, he’ll be launched into the middle of a tight AL East playoff race. That’s a radically different environment compared to his time in Pittsburgh. Through 42 appearances this season, the 30-year-old has accounted for a 2.37 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and a career-best 12.1 K/9.
It’s difficult to tell Yankees fans to damper their excitement. The team went out and grabbed one of the sport’s most reliable late-inning arms. General manager Brian Cashman did so without sacrificing one of the system’s top five prospects, per MLB.com. This move also sets the Bombers up nicely going forward, as Bednar is under team control through 2026. That’s not too surprising, as New York is typically averse to sacrificing major assets for rentals.
The Yankees now hold +950 odds of winning the World Series on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Pittsburgh Pirates Grade: C+
Considering who they gave up, this deal will be seen as a disappointment for most Pirates fans. Still, as we learned with the Mason Miller trade, last-place clubs have no use for a closer. In addition, Pittsburgh’s atrocious offense needs major league-ready hitters. Flores, the headliner for this deal, offers that and more to the Buccos.
Ranked as the #8 prospect in the Yankees system, the catcher dominated Double-A. Through 87 games with Somerset, Flores slashed .287/.346/.496 with 15 home runs and 56 RBIs. Unsurprisingly, those numbers were good enough to earn the 24-year-old a promotion to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. New York’s 2024 Minor League Player of the Year has raked at nearly every level. Now, he’ll have a clear path to the majors on a Pirates club starved for hitting.
The rest of this return ranks outside of New York’s top ten prospects, but it’s certainly not nothing. Edgleen Perez is a hybrid catcher-first baseman, much like Flores. However, he’s known more for his abilities behind the plate. Currently in Single-A, there’s plenty of time for the 19-year-old to improve his skill with the bat. Brian Sanchez, also at Single-A Tampa, is another position player for Pittsburgh. The outfielder has a solid .281/.373/.438 slash line this season.
Despite the lack of marquee prospects, there’s plenty to like about this return for the Pirates. Still, one can’t help but wonder if general manager Ben Cherington could have gotten more for an All-Star. Jhoan Duran netted two blue chippers, while Mason Miller got the Athletics an absolute haul. Bednar isn’t as good as either player, but he’s also not that far off. You’d be forgiven for thinking the Pirates might have waited too long to sell one of the sport’s most underrated closers.
