Blue Jays trade deadline target: David Bednar

Outside of 2024, Bednar has historically done an excellent job of limiting walks. He owns a career 3.12 BB/9 and is only giving up a free pass to 2.43 batters per nine innings so far this season. The combination of piling up strikeouts while also avoiding walks is an excellent recipe to be a quality high-leverage arm.

Contract situation

Bednar is earning $5.9 million this year in his second season of arbitration eligibility. He’s arb-eligible for the 2026 campaign, as well, before he’s scheduled to become a free agent. Even with the Blue Jays finding themselves well past the competitive balance tax, Bednar’s salary for this year and projected earnings for 2026 wouldn’t require much in the way of financial gymnastics. It’s more a case of paying the acquisition cost to the Pirates, as opposed to any challenge related to fitting Bednar’s salary into the payroll.

How does Bednar help the Blue Jays?

Bednar looks as good as ever in his seventh MLB season. Whether pitching in the ninth inning or earlier, Bednar’s repertoire and track record would be a huge boost to a Blue Jays bullpen that still feels at least one high-quality arm away from being truly complete.

Bednar could help form a dynamic one-two punch at the back of the bullpen alongside closer Jeff Hoffman. It would give manager John Schneider another proven option to turn to in the late innings, and a possible replacement with experience to fill in the void left by Yimi García’s ongoing absence due to an elbow issue.

Acquiring the Pirates right-hander won’t come cheap, but it looks like a worthy pathway to pursue, as the Blue Jays try to shore up any roster holes to put themselves in the best position down the stretch.