The commerce is pending medical assessment. Catcher Rafael Flores, the Yankees’ eighth-best prospect on MLB.com, will headline the bundle going again to Pittsburgh. Edgleen Perez, one other catcher, and outfielder Brian Sanchez are additionally being traded to the Pirates, per The Athletic’s Stephen J. Nesbitt.
Bednar, 30, has returned to type this season after recording a 5.77 ERA final 12 months. The righty has 17 saves to associate with a 2.37 ERA, and his 33.1 Ok% ranks within the ninety fifth percentile.
An All-Star in 2022 and 2023, Bednar recorded a 2.25 ERA over 179.2 innings from 2021-2023. His greatest season got here in 2023, when he led the Nationwide League with 39 saves whereas posting a 2.00 ERA.
A Pittsburgh native who went to Lafayette School in Easton, Pennsylvania, Bednar has spent the previous 5 seasons with the Pirates. He’s naturally grown comfy pitching in his personal yard, however a supply stated Bednar has some shut connections within the New York space.
“He will have a very, very large support crew of college teammates and friends, so he’ll be great,” the supply, requesting anonymity, stated.
Bednar, a Thirty fifth-round choose again in 2016, provides energy stuff to the Yankees’ pitching employees, as his 97.1-mph common fastball velocity ranks within the 89th percentile. Additionally outfitted with a curve and a splitter, he takes a 6.5 BB%, 30.1 Chase% and a 28.3 Whiff% to the Bronx.
One other perk of touchdown Bednar is that he comes with group management, as he received’t attain free company till after the 2026 season. Bednar is incomes $5.9 million this 12 months.
That additional 12 months of management is essential for the Yankees, as Devin Williams and Luke Weaver are scheduled at no cost company this winter. Each have been the group’s nearer, however Bednar might take over that job, seemingly at a reduced worth, if wanted in 2026.
Maybe most significantly, Bednar brings a functioning arm to a battered bullpen that entered Thursday’s sport with a 4.89 ERA since June 1, the fifth-worst mark within the majors.
With Mark Leiter Jr. (fractured leg), Fernando Cruz (indirect), Ryan Yarbrough (indirect) and Jake Cousins (season-ending Tommy John surgical procedure) all on the injured record, the Yankees haven’t had many relievers they will depend on outdoors of Williams and Tim Hill currently. Jonathan Loáisiga has been inconsistent at greatest, whereas Ian Hamilton hasn’t earned belief in high-leverage conditions. Even Weaver has a 6.60 ERA over 15 innings since coming off the IL with a hamstring pressure.
Bednar offers them one, and a proficient one at that. Extra reduction upgrades can be welcomed; Blake particularly stated buying one other lefty to pair with the overused Hill can be good.
If an exterior southpaw can’t be obtained, Yarbrough might finally assist fill that hole after shining within the Yankees’ rotation earlier this season. The swingman only recently threw his first bullpen session since getting damage.
Leiter, in the meantime, threw reside batting apply on Thursday and is predicted to pitch in a rehab sport over the weekend. If all goes properly, he might rejoin the Yankees in Texas subsequent week.
Lastly, Cruz is scheduled to throw his first bullpen session on Friday. The Yankees have stated it’s potential the righty returns this month, however the group deliberate on taking issues sluggish with him after he suffered a high-grade pressure.
On Thursday morning, Boone stated that the Yankees are hoping the approaching returns of these three and starter Luis Gil “are big deals for us.”
Gil might additionally impression the reduction corps, as his return will presumably push Marcus Stroman – who struggled in opposition to the Rays on Thursday – Cam Schlittler or Will Warren to the bullpen.
In Flores, the Pirates are getting an undrafted JUCO product who rapidly climbed the Yankees’ minor league ladder because of his highly effective right-handed swing. The 24-year-old was just lately promoted to Triple-A and is hitting .279/.351/.475 with 16 residence runs and 60 RBI over 97 complete video games this season.
“I feel like my whole career, I’ve had that chip on my shoulder, and I use that to my advantage,” Flores stated in spring coaching. “I take advantage of it to encourage myself. I take advantage of it to gasoline my sport.
“It sounds cliché, starting from the bottom, but I technically did.”
The Yankees, who’ve earned a fame for creating catchers, have been impressed with Flores’ receiving abilities in spring coaching, however he has additionally performed some first base.
Perez is simply 19. Thought-about the Yankees’ 14th-best prospect, the right-handed hitter was batting .209 with a .604 OPS, zero homers and 26 RBI at Single-A.
Sanchez, 21, hit .281 with an .811 OPS, 4 residence runs and 24 steals at Single-A this season, his second within the Yankees’ system. The lefty-swinging outfielder was acquired within the 2023 commerce that despatched Jake Bauers to the Brewers and was not among the many Yankees’ high 30 prospects.
Initially Printed: July 31, 2025 at 3:32 PM EDT
