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Yankees Acquire David Bednar from Pirates: What to Make of Move

Originally posted on New Baseball Media
By Chris Studley | Last updated Jul 31, 2025 6:38 PM ET

Relievers have taken over the 2025 MLB Trade Deadline. The latest one to move was David Bednar, who was traded from the Pirates to the Yankees on the 31st. The Pirates, meanwhile, picked up two notable catching prospects from the Yankees: Triple-A backstop Rafael Flores and Edgleen Perez.

The Yankees’ Return

RP David Bednar (2.37 ERA, 51 K over 38 IP)

Acquired almost five years ago in a three-team deal with the Padres and Mets, western Pennsylvania pitcher David Bednar did relatively well for his hometown team.

The 30-year-old quickly emerged as an elite reliever in 2021, then took over the full-time role in 2022. Bednar held that role for most of 2022-24, although he ceded that role late last year to Aroldis Chapman after struggling last season.

He continued to have problems with command early on, which led to a demotion to Triple-A. Bednar didn’t last long there and ultimately returned as the Pirates’ closer. The 30-year-old did very well this season, highlighted by a 33.1% K% and above-average chase and whiff metrics.

David Bednar Whiff 2025 PIT Bednar leaned less on the fastball this season, using it less than 50% of the time this year. Instead, he’s leaned more on the curveball and splitter to keep hitters off balance. (via New Baseball Media)

Bednar is a three-pitch pitcher, relying on a four-seamer with high carry (18.0”) and a pitch that works very well up. He’ll pair that with a mid-70s curveball, which has been his main secondary weapon this season. That pitch is a good breaker, one that worked to get him both called strikes and swings-and-misses (37.5%).

Aside from those two pitches, Bednar also works with a mid-80s splitter, a pitch that’ll drop down and works well with the fastball.

The Pirates’ Return

C Rafael Flores (.279/.351/.475, 16 HR and 40 XBH over 97 GP (AA and AAA)
C Edgleen Perez (.209/.368/.236, 0 HR and 8 XBH over 83 GP (A))
OF Brian Sanchez (.281/.373/.438, 4 HR and 25 XBH over 63 GP (A))

The Yankees have done a strong job of producing catchers with offensive upside. Rafael Flores is next up on that list.

Flores showed that upside at the plate in Double-A, as he blasted 30 home runs across 152 contests with Somerset (AA) over the last two seasons.

The other two pieces in this deal are both Low-A prospects: Edgleen Perez and Brian Sanchez.

Perez is the big name out of the two, as the 19-year-old is young for the Florida State League and reportedly received rave reviews behind the plate.

But aside from that, Perez has shown an advanced feel for the strike zone. He only chased at pitches 15.2% of the time out of the zone, a strong reason why he posted a .368 on-base percentage down in Tampa. However, the 2.1 Barrel/PA is a good sign that the Pirates should wait patiently for Perez.

Analysis

The Yankees have traded several catchers out of the farm system over the last two seasons. Agustin Ramirez (Marlins), Carlos Narvaez (Red Sox), and now Flores and Perez have all been moved in the matter of a year.

However, that depth allowed them to add other pieces of interest, including Jazz Chisholm Jr. and now Bednar.

New York has received checkered results from both Devin Williams and Luke Weaver, both of whom were highly effective last season. Bednar gives the Yankees more insurance. And given Bednar has one year left of control, it means the former All-Star can slot in as closer for possibly the end of this year & next season.

The Pirates, meanwhile, get a bat in Rafael Flores, who is close to MLB-ready. He’s only played 10 games past Double-A but is someone to watch, especially given the fact that the Pirates needed bats.

Perez, meanwhile, is a high-upside lottery ticket.

This article first appeared on New Baseball Media and was syndicated with permission.

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