The Pittsburgh Pirates will continue their long rebuild in the coming days.
The Pittsburgh Pirates are once again sellers and will continue their long rebuild in the coming days leading up to the July 31 trade deadline.
At 43-62, it has been another disappointing season despite Paul Skenes being in the Cy Young race.
Interim manager Don Kelly has kept the team competitive, going 31-36 since taking over for Derek Shelton who was fired after a 12-26 start, but teams will be calling about several veteran players.
One of whom is two-time All-Star closer David Bednar, who The Athletic’s Stephen J. Nesbitt predicts will no longer be a Pirate after Thursday.
“The reasons not to trade Bednar amount to little more than: He’s from here. The reasons to trade the hometown closer are many,” wrote Nesbitt. “Just months after a demotion to Triple A, Bednar once again looks like a two-time All-Star closer. He fits every contending team’s bullpen, as either a closer or leverage reliever, and the Pirates will surely receive a better return by trading Bednar now than by waiting to move him this offseason or next trade deadline when he’ll be a rental.”
Bednar, 30, has had a terrific bounce-back season after posting a 5.77 ERA in 2024.
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Bednar is 2-5 with a 2.19 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP in 41 appearances this season. He has also converted all 16 of his save opportunities.
From 2021 to 2023, Bednar was one of Major League Baseball’s top relievers. He recorded 61 saves and had a 2.28 ERA over that span.
He could be traded as the headliner of a deal, or he could be moved in a package with starter Mitch Keller in a blockbuster.
Expect a contender to acquire Bednar and possibly more as the team focuses on the future.
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Category: Baseball
