The final hours of the trade deadline are proving to be frantic for the New York Yankees front office, who are keeping a close eye on their team’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays while scouring the market for pieces that can strengthen the team in their quest to return to the World Series
In that relentless search, they have found a new weapon for their battered bullpen, the worst in the American League since July 1 (6.29 ERA) and the fifth highest in the circuit since the start of the season (4.24). We are talking about right-hander David Bednar, who has said goodbye to Paul Skenes in Pittsburgh to travel to New York, where he will be a new Yankee
The reliever arrives in exchange for catcher Rafael Flores (the organization’s eighth prospect), first baseman and catcher Edgleen Perez (14th prospect) and outfielder Brian Sanchez, a big package for a pitcher the Bombers will have under control until at least 2027, when he will become a free agent
But the most important thing for the Yankees is the immediate impact of the reliever, who will surely come in and go straight into the closer’s role, where the Bronx Bombers have had multiple holes in 2025.
Neither Devin Williams nor Luke Weaver have fulfilled that role to the level that the New Yorkers need. So far, between the two of them, they have blown five save opportunities this campaign. The worst thing is that their performance has been very unstable and that generates too many doubts for a team that cannot have so many cracks in the bullpen to fight to return to the World Series
Bednar arrives at the Yankees to try to correct this deficiency and does so after completing 17 consecutive saves with the Pirates. His season got off on the wrong foot, as he allowed four runs in his first three outings against the Marlins, so he was even sent to the Minor Leagues to make the necessary adjustments
After almost 20 days in Triple-A (Indianapolis), he returned to MLB and since then he has been a reliable arm for Pittsburgh. In 38 outings since mid-April, he has a 1.70 ERA, with 50 strikeouts, eight walks and only six extra-base hits allowed against the 145 batters faced in that span
“A revitalized curveball has been the second option that Bednar so badly needed in his lackluster 2024 season. Of his 51 strikeouts this year, 21 have been with that pitch, posting a 37.5% whiff rate and a .190 batting average against,” said MLB reporter Alex Stumpf
The Yankees hope that the right-hander will continue this line and establish himself as the leader they so desperately need in the bullpen. In addition to the poor performance of some relievers, the team has had to deal with injuries to Mark Leiter Jr, Fernando Cruz and Ryan Yarbrough, who are currently unavailable. For all these reasons, Bednar’s arrival is a breath of fresh air
Another arm besides Bednar
As an additional move, the Yankees also acquired Jake Bird, a Colorado reliever who has posted an impressive 2.48 ERA at Coors Field, a hitter’s paradise, although on the road he has fared worse with an ERA of 7.40
Bird, in the month of July alone, has allowed 15 runs and three home runs in just six innings, for a disastrous 19.89 ERA. With this in mind, it is not very clear what New York is pursuing with this trade, in which they sent second baseman Roc Riggio and left-handed pitcher Ben Shields, ranked among the organization’s top 30 prospects, to the Rockies
So far, the New Yorkers have made moves for third baseman Ryan McMahon, utility player Amed Rosario, outfielder Austin Slater and pitchers Bednar and Bird. However, they are not done with their search in the trade market, as they are rumored to be on the trail of Marlins starter Sandy Alcantara.
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