The Pittsburgh Pirates dealt two-time All-Star closer David Bednar to the New York Yankees during Thursday’s 6 p.m. trade deadline, parting with their most reliable late-inning weapon of the season. Bednar, a product of nearby Mars, Pa., posted a 2.37 ERA in 42 appearances and converted all 17 save opportunities before the deal. Since his recall from Triple-A Indianapolis in mid-April, he allowed just one earned run over 23.1 innings—a homer surrendered in his most recent outing snapped what had been an otherwise dominant stretch. His departure ends a five-year run in Pittsburgh that included 101 saves and back-to-back All-Star nods.
In return, Pittsburgh acquired catcher/first baseman Rafael Flores, MLB Pipeline’s No. 8 Yankees prospect. At 24, Flores has shown advanced hitting mechanics across Double-A Somerset and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, slashing .279/.351/.475 with 16 homers in 97 games this season. His combination of plate discipline, pop and framing prowess makes him one of the most polished backstops in the minors—and a candidate to push for a big-league role as soon as 2026.
The second piece is 19-year-old backstop Edgleen Perez, ranked No. 14 in New York’s system. Scouts rave about his 60-grade arm strength and 55-grade glove, praising his feel for framing and game-calling. Offensively, Perez is still acclimating, posting a .209/.368/.236 line at Single-A Tampa, but evaluators believe his mature approach and athleticism will carry him toward more consistent run production in the years ahead.
Pittsburgh also received 21-year-old outfielder Brian Sanchez, who’s been a catalyst on the basepaths at Single-A Charleston. Sanchez owns a .281 average with a team-leading 24 steals in 98 games, and while his raw power remains a work in progress, his 6-foot-1 frame and 70-grade speed profile as a plus defender and potential top-of-the-order spark once he develops more extra-base pop.
This swap underscores the Pirates’ commitment to restocking their farm system by leveraging controllable veterans. Bednar’s exit will leave a late-inning void in Pittsburgh’s bullpen, but the infusion of Flores, Perez and Sanchez adds high-upside talent at premium positions. For the Yankees, acquiring a proven closer with two years of team control shores up their late-inning depth as they chase another postseason run.
Although many fans are going to be upset with this transaction, Sportsvival thinks the Pirates got good value for an aging closer. Chances are, David Bednar would not have been around when or if the Pirates changed their fortunes.