Blue Jays Join Bidding for Pirates Relievers

The Blue Jays may not have that type of hitter in their system to offer for Bednar. Hiles reports that the Pirates would seek a top-five prospect at a minimum. Toronto’s top five prospects include four pitchers. Their No. 1 prospect, Arjun Nimmala, is a shortstop presently in High-A ball. Thus, the Blue Jays might not be a good match. Then again, they’ve been a favorite trade partner of Cherington, who served as their vice president of baseball operations from 2016-19.

The top prospects lists of the Tigers, Phillies, and Rangers include several hitters in the top five. However, none are projected to arrive in the majors in 2025. Presumably, they have nothing to offer that fits the description of what Cherington is asking for Bednar. The asking price for Santana is unknown.

Two Top-Tier Relief Pitchers

Bednar, 30, was an All-Star in 2022 and 2023. Across those two years, he was 6-7 with 58 saves, a 2.27 ERA, and a 1.109 WHIP. His 39 saves led the National League in 2023. The following year was an off year, as Bednar fell to 3-8 with a 5.77 ERA and 1.422 WHIP. He still managed 23 saves in 2024, but that was out of 30 opportunities. After a rough start and a trip to Triple-A Indianapolis, Bednar returned as his old All-Star self. At the close of Monday’s action, he’s 2-5 with a 2.37 ERA, 17 saves in as many opportunities, a 1.105 WHIP, and a career-best 5.10 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Santana, 29, doesn’t get the glory Bednar gets, but arguably may be even better. Santana’s 2.2 WAR is second only to Paul Skenes on the Pirates. He saved five games in six chances while Bednar struggled early in the season. Santana has a sparkling 1.39 ERA, 0.838 WHIP, and 306 ERA+. He could easily step into the role of a closer. The Pirates’ asking price for Santana may not be as steep as what they’d seek for Bednar. It may be easier for the Blue Jays to pry away Santana than it would be to acquire Bednar.

Both Bednar and Santana are under team control through 2026. Thus, neither represents a mere rental. Both are arbitration-eligible next year.

Reluctance to Trade Bednar?

Then again, one wonders whether Cherington would trade Bednar at all. Previous reports indicated that owner Bob Nutting stepped in and blocked Bednar from being traded in the past. There have been no reports that Nutting would interfere again, given Bednar’s approaching arbitration and the dire need for offense. Even so, Cherington sounded a reluctant tone when discussing Bednar with the media on Sunday. Bednar is a public relations person’s dream, a Pittsburgh-area native who excels on the field and works tirelessly in charitable endeavors off the field. “The sort of trifecta of those things is not lost on any of us,” said Cherington. “He’s a really valuable pitcher, a really important person. I think we should take that very seriously.”

The Last Word

Cherington is right about that. If Bednar is dealt to the Blue Jays or anywhere else, Cherington needs to get that trade right to appease a fan base weary of trades for prospects who never pan out. Ironically, the Pirates just released Hudson Head, a prospect who was supposedly the key player in the 2020 deal with the San Diego Padres that brought Bednar home to Pittsburgh. Head only made it as far as Double-A.

A few years ago, an elderly woman, fed up with such trades, called into a local sports talk radio show. Whoever had his finger on the bleeper was asleep at the switch. The lady was heard to exclaim, “I’ve had prospects up my ass!” That about sums it up for Pirates fans. If the popular Bednar is traded for an unimpressive package of prospects, there would be so many fans surrounding PNC Park with lit torches that one would think they were filming a remake of Frankenstein. If she’s still extant, the old woman may even be leading the charge.