4:14PM: The Pirates are also open to hearing what teams might offer for Mitch Keller, Heyman tweets, but like with Bednar, a trade doesn’t seem likely. It would seem like Pittsburgh is taking a broad, due-diligence approach to the deadline just in case a special opportunity arises, yet moving a building-block type like Keller or Bednar would indeed require a real blockbuster of an offer.
3:25PM: The Pirates are willing to listen to trade offers on closer David Bednar, reports Jon Heyman of The New York Post, though he adds that it will likely be difficult to get a deal together.
Bednar, 28, would undoubtedly be of interest to any club around the league, given the way he keeps taking his game to new levels. Across 2021 and 2022, he posted a 2.40 earned run average in 106 appearances, striking out 32.7% of batters faced while walking 7.8%. This year, he’s cut his walk rate to just 5.8%, helping him drop his ERA to 1.15. He earned 19 saves last year and has already matched that figure here in 2023.
On top of his obvious skills, Bednar would have plenty of appeal to MLB clubs based on his status. He came into the 2023 season with two years and 76 days of service time. That means he’ll qualify for arbitration for the first time this winter and won’t be scheduled to reach free agency until after the 2026 campaign. Just about every contending club can use a strong bullpen upgrade at this time of year, bumping every other reliever down one spot in the pecking order.
Of course, the same qualities that make Bednar attractive to the other 29 clubs also work on the Pirates. The club has faded after a hot start and is now 43-56, but they have shown enough potential this year to suggest that maybe contention isn’t too far away. Reliever performance is volatile and there is a school of thought that a club in seller position should be open to moving any member of its bullpen, which makes it fairly logical for the Bucs to listen and see what’s out there. But Bednar’s elite performance and local ties, having been born in Pittsburgh and raised nearby, suggest they will need to be blown away in order for a deal to come together.
It’s important to distinguish between a club that’s willing to listen to offers versus one that is actively shopping a player around. There’s nothing to suggest the Pirates have done the latter, so it’s possible that their open mind to incoming calls is merely due diligence. Perhaps some club makes them an offer they can’t refuse, but it seems the most likely scenario is that he stays in Pittsburgh as they take another shot at contention next year.
Although obtaining Bednar may prove difficult, teams looking for quality bullpen upgrades should have plenty of other options among the potential trade candidates this summer. Some other names that figure to be more attainable include Scott Barlow, David Robertson, Jordan Hicks and many others.
Bednar and McCutchen to the Rangers.
Cutch isn’t going anywhere, the owner, Bob Nutting has recently said as much
Cutch has reiterated that he has no desire to go elsewhere as well.
Bednar to Marlins for the alliterative duo of Sixto Sanchez and Max Meyer
2 hurt (but otherwise unavailable) rotation arms for next year.
what do ya think?
The Pirates already own 2 of those tyoe of guys., Burrows and Brubaker..;
Goldschmidt and Arenado to the Rangers.
Murphy and Strider to the Rangers.
Hey why did the Braves get brought into this? Lol
That would be game set match
Apparently Keller is now included in a potential trade, which essentially means that the team will undergo yet another rebuild which, and I don’t speak alone on this matter, has become a revolving loop
There had been speculation that they were trying to extend Keller, and while he has talent, his past 3 starts have been questionable if not horrible
An ERA of over 10.00
Pretty much meaningless. It’ll be like Reynolds. Overwhelm with an offer and they’ll listen, no one is going to overwhelm them.
Keller ain’t going nowhere.
The site specifically said that any trades for either are unlikely
No it doesn’t. Keller remains iffy, for one, and is not likely to be a key part of the team that will evolve, so if a haul can be gotten then do it.
Is reading comprehension a problem for you, JPR?
“but with Bednar, a trade doesn’t seem likely “
People must just read the headlines then post
SMH
Could be the Pirates feel an overpay can be obtainable. More top tier prospects that are younger give them a better chance. Reds are doing it. Rays have done it. While Keller and Bednar may be good players, they’re not enough to get the Pirates over the top.
i was thinking exactly this. You basically get 2.5 years of Keller- a clear mid rotation arm. Teams like the Os may be interested since his more expensive years of arbitration would be the pre arb years of their star players…. and i could see the Pirates accepting Norby, Stowers and another piece for him. Makes sense for both teams since it adds 3 playoff runs of a #3 SP (with upside for more).
Yeah. If the Pirates are going to reload, they need to make sure they have enough pieces for enough time to give them a chance. I don’t see them doing a trip to the WS with the existing team in the next two years.
McCutchen has said he doesn’t want to play anywhere else and is loved by fans. Nutting knows that city already hates him so why would he trade him again, huh?
I don’t think the Pirates should trade Keller at all. If anything, they should lock him up LT while he is still cheap. This is his first really good year and we should build around it.The fans don’t want another fire sale
Cherington’s head would be on the local media proverbial chopping block if they decide to rebuild yet again
We’re supposed to be in year 4 of the last rebuild and fans alike won’t take kindly to it if this is their intention
that time was last year. he is already in the first year of arbitration, and i am guessing going to 5m next year and closer to 10 the year after. So even buying out those years ou are saving that much money.
These days if you have a star plaer you need to buy out within the first year (maybe 2) in the bigs.
I feel like reports like this are simply the GM being too lazy to pick up a phone and call other GMs.
Anyone needs a guy to handle this stuff I can do it. I am just a phone call away…….wait a minute…….
Hey, I just met you,
and this is crazy
But here’s David Bednar,
so call me, maybe?
Hahaha YESSS!!!!
The Yankees should all be in on Bednar. Jonathan Lasagna and Will Warren would likely get it done.
What would the Yankees offer? Bednar’s price is going to be steep
They’re not going to just give him away
That doesn’t even get you in the ballpark….
That doesn’t get you into the parking lot of the ballpark.
You have to love yankee fans, they think their cast offs are hotly desirably upgrades for 29 other teams and their prospects are the crème de la crème.
Exactly. Dominguez??? Now we’re listening.
No Dominguez, and no Yankee trades ever with the Pirates ever again. So not listening anymore.
@drasco36- Cast offs? It’s funny You could actually say that about the whole Pirates organization from the bat boy to the water boy. When have the Pirates ever been relevant? Give me a break!
ahhhh yes, bashing the team with 1/4 of the payroll. I’m a Cardinal’s fan, and I am excited for the Pirates. The skankies in the other hand, I laugh every year that they can’t buy a ring. You’re not getting Bednar for anything less than a haul. And if Dominguez is off the table, I’d hang up on you too. I’m not saying the Yankees SHOULD trade him, but the Pirates should ABSOLUTELY insist on him
Lasagna 28 years old, the Bucs want youth not never and will bees
Bednar for just those two? Are you on drugs?
the judge has never been right about any potential trade
Earlier in the season he said Reynolds would be traded to the Yankees
I NEVER said he was going to be traded to the Yankees. It would have in the Yankees best interest to have traded for him though, but not for the haul Pittsburgh was asking for.
You said Loaisiga and Warren “gets it done.” You are flat out wrong on that.
I didn’t know Bednar had 3 years of control, so the price would be higher now obviously. Johnny Lasagna probably has 3 of control also. Yanks better off just keeping him.
Loaisga has 1 year after this year and injury issues plus…well he’s not in the same ballpark as bednar. Homer dreams to think he is even a secondary piece for bednar.
Remember relievers are fickle & combustible and can fluctuate in performance from year to year, month to month , or day to day. I wouldn’t give up a boatload to any reliever or sign one to a contract over 3 years unless they were truly special & unique. Otherwise you get Rafael Montero, et al.
I don’t really care, truthfully. Whatever Bednar isn’t a true need for the Yankees anyway. So you can keep em’ Good luck!
I think you need at least 3 guys like Warren to get it done for bednar (if not more).
note- i like Warren, but he is a solid prospect with a solid floor in AAA. HE is an organization top 10 (top 250 overall) prospect that if you have 3 guys like him- you likely have 1 mid rotation guy, one inning eater (or bullpen arm) and 1 wash out.
Ben says “NO DEAL!”
That clicking noise you hear is the pirates politely hanging up before they laugh hysterically
Use the trade simulator. It’s not fact but it’s the closest thing to it we have. And I bet it doesn’t like your trade proposal for the Pirates.
Hampton, Beeter and Periera.
No way that’s way to much cuz! Besides we’re going to keep Pereira in a bigger deal for Bellinger or Donovan or Carlson, hopefully. We’ll see what happens. Glad Johnny Lasagna is back and ready to close for us, finally.
how’s that Josh Donaldson signing going?
It’s fine, cause he’s done for the year, but as always thank you for your concern.
I’m well aware that he’s done for the year. I also know that the Yankees wasted their money on him
Not close imo.
Yeah. Not even close.
Not even close. Loaisiga is perpetually injured. These two wouldn’t sniff Bednar. Moreover, the Yankees need a left fielder and a catcher who can hit.
Yankees don’t trade their “good” prospects. They let them make it to MLB and lose all their value. They end up with a Montas instead of a Castillo. They aren’t getting a Bednar Keller.
is this a joke? I can’t tell, because if you’re being serious I’d be required by internet rules to point out how asinine you sound
McCutchen’s not going anywhere. He’ll retire a Pirate.
Not like any team wants him anyway lmao
Yeah, who would want a player who’s amassed over 2000 career hits, over 400 career doubles, drawn more than 1000 career walks and is 3 homers shy of 300 for his career
@TheMan 3 That arguement you made is probably the worst thing I’ve ever heard come out of anyone’s mouth on this site. Yea teams are itching to trade for McCutchen with all those career stats you just listed. How about Robinson Cano then? Justin Upton? Joey Votto? Maybe Barry Bonds can find his old cleats and start contributing. McCutchen is a shell of his former self. He is not starting on most playoff teams
I was responding to Little Stevie, LFGMets and it was meant as sarcasm
try and keep up
I think you are the one that is behind here…
Every team would be interested in Cutch. Why. Pete….
every team with the exception of LFGMets, who doesn’t realize the impact that Cutch would bring to a playoff team
And he’s not a starter for Pittsburgh which suggests that you don’t know much about him to begin with
talk about reading the worst opinion on this site
Pot meet kettle
Cutch would be a good bat boy for a playoff team, nothing more. Maybe the dodgers would let him clean the toilets too.
Send him to the Dodgers.
yes. Cartaya, Busch, Pages, Stone.
Pick one
To all of the armchair GMs that think their team will offer nobodies in exchange for Bednar, get a grip on reality
He has 3 years of control left and is a premier and proven closer
It’s going to take a deal too good to refuse for him to be traded
Some of these people have played a little too much OOTP with the trading set to easy.
“Rangers offer Jonathan Hernandez and Josh Smith for David Bednar. Rangers’ assistant GM says: ‘Sorry boss, this doesn’t sound too fair to me. I’d try asking for more, maybe a prospect.'”
Pirate fan flexing I like it.
This is your time to shine bud. Let em have it.
The Royals could use him
and 25 others
Why would the Royals trade prospects for a closer, when they usually aren’t winning going into the 9th inning to begin with?
They wouldn’t
I feel like when you get sentimental about a guy because he’s local is when you get in trouble. If you were dealing with a non Pittsburgh native and someone was offering two top 100 prospects, you’ll make that deal.
It’s great that he wants to play in Pittsburgh but he also has the opportunity to win. And if the Pirates are far enough along in the rebuild when he becomes a free agent it’s an even more attractive place to play.
Except that Bednar won’t be a free agent until 2028
Bednar was born 40 miles from Pittsburgh
If you knew anything about Pittsburgh, you’d know that 40 miles away is still considered Pittsburgh the the Burghers.
Do people still think you get better by trading your best players away for prospects? Sure it works sometimes and is ok for rentals, but look around the league and it doesn’t work out a lot. Oakland A’s traded a lot of quality players, many still under control, and got absolutely nothing in return. Orioles didn’t trade guys like Cedric Mullins and instead relied on their player development to get better, and drafted elite talent. Reds traded some guys away but had minor leaguers ready to replace them. And for as much as they got back in the Castillo trade, he’d be a perfect fit of this team now and I guarantee they’d take it back.
I don’t know that cincy would’ve gotten him to ink that extension. I’m sure they’d love to have him now but they have the prospect capital they received for him to turn right around and acquire a similar guy.
MLB teams aren’t built from relievers though. That’s your argument to dump bednar. If you can get 2 potential starters in your rotation or out in the field—you have to at least take a listen.
They aren’t sentimental at all. If he isn’t traded it’s because no one offered what he’s worth. They would like nothing more than to trade him. I don’t think he will be traded but hopefully a team makes a bad move.
So much for the short-lived Pirates optimism of 2023!
Pirates……. Why did it have to come to this.
It was destined to come to this because they have employed as their manager a complete loser who develops his lineups by throwing names into his cap and an even worse hitting coach who has an offense even worse than last season
The Pirates are 4-16 for the month of July. Any other team would have fired the manager for this epic failure of a season
Instead, they take considerations to trade 2 cornerstones of their franchise
He would be a great setup guy for Diaz that is not overworked.
That’s why it will never happen.
For what it would cost he would be closing. Not going to Reds.
Eh modern bullpens are looked at a lot differently. Andrew Miller was acquired multiple times to not close. Hefty price was paid each time.
I wouldn’t say never. I highly doubt cincy acquires him but he could be acquired by a team and not be their closer. More likely that he’d close but certainly has been done before.
Mauricio and Vasil
This would be a hefty mistake. This isn’t a team that won’t be winning (or at least trying to win) for a while. This man is under control for quite some time and should just be penned into the closing role until he is a free agent.
This is the first time in years I don’t want the pirates to sell off assets or add anything and just hold tight.
Exception being maybe Santana or Hill but there isn’t much value there and the veteran presence should be worth the salary.
Good closers are a luxury bad teams shouldn’t accommodate. Maybe the Pirates’ window is closer than most bad teams with good closers, but the haul Bednar would bring in if a team was dead set on making a deal might open that competitive window sooner and wider than Bednar does alone.
What is the return going to be? The last time the team almost traded a (better) closer with control was Vasquez and he was rumored to yield 1 top 50 prospect.
Sign me up for Bednar. The team would be better off trading for an established starter and signing a bat next off season and competing for a WC spot based on their early games this year and being handcuffed by an awful hitting coach and manager they aren’t that bad.
I would be supportive of them including Shelton and Haines in a deal for Rich Hill, but trading Bednar sends another signal that their 3 year rebuild to competitive play has failed
While devout Pirates fans already know this, having to admit it publicly won’t go over well otherwise
It’s always a constant rebuild with this franchise and trading Bednar is exactly what it will mean
Closers keep wins. So obviously you trade him for prospects who will create wins. A fan of the team should be hoping another team gets stupid and wants him.
Agreed Dream. I would trade him in a heartbeat for the right deal.
I wonder if the Pirates would consider a package of Brett Baty and Calvin Ziegler for Bednar
The Mets wouldn’t.
@Mets6986?? Why wouldn’t the Mets consider this? Bednar has 3 years of control left. This team not only needs a closer right now, but he can also be an elite setup guy/ insurance for Diaz’s injury. I don’t see much in Baty honestly. I think his peak would be a .260 to .270 BA with like 15 to 17 hrs a year while playing slightly below average defense. Get Bednar and then offer him a 2 year extention which would virtually make him and Diaz the one and 2 guys in the bullpen for the next 5 years, Mauricio/Vientos can play 3rd
Because Baty has twice his value with almost 6 years of control. Why would the e Mets give up on Baty for a setup man. Bednar is great but not potential Third base All Star great.
@Mets6986?? I think we have different views of how good Baty will be. You think hes a potential all star, I think hes an average player
He’s 23 in his rookie season and has a little over two hundred career at bats. He was a a top twenty prospect coming into the season. Give the kid a break because he’s not hitting .330 with 20 hrs yet. Imagine if the Angels traded trout because he struggled a little bit starting off his career.
Baty isn’t their type. Probably interested in all prospects from Mets.
Marlins sure could use a closer, and they have a lot of young, controllable pitching.
Maybe there’s a deal with Max Meyer + something else?
How about Max Meyer for Ivan Herrera? You like that?
As an Os fan, finally a name worth some prospects or players. Mountcastle plus DL Hall, but I’d want a prospect. How about the Pirates 2024 CB pick. Want Cole irvin instead of Hall. Fine. Want Irvin, Cole and Hall? Add Pirates 2024 2nd round.
The Pirates are not taking Cole Irvin, DL Hall and Ryan Mountcastle for Mitch Keller and a high draft pick. From a financial perspective alone that is absolutely absurd, and I’m a huge Orioles fan.
O’s would have to give up a package around Mayo. Not sure I like that but maybe the pirates are dumb and they can grab Keller for something else. Would love Mitch for in this rotation.
Pirates don’t want veterans that aren’t good enough for your team. Don’t want failed prospects. Wilm take legitimate top 100 guys.
Could see a team ready to make a 2024 push go after both in a deal.
Best fit I can think of is Boston, but is it a move Bloom would make?
Baseball trade values says this would get it done.
1B Tristan Casas
#4 org OF Anthony Bleis
#6 org SS Mikey Romero
#28 org SP Shane Drohan
I can’t see them trading Casas at all.
Does the value check out with the simulator? I feel like thats too much on the Red Sox end. Simulator likes Bleis a lot I was checking it last night.
It’s a slight overpay for Boston, but that’s what it would take to land that duo. It’s $86.7 going to Pittsburgh and $80.7 going to Boston. Maybe Pitt throws in a low level go to balance it out.
Surprised it’s that close.
I can see them trading the prospects. But not Casas. They like and need him.
You kids and that baseball trade values site need to go and fly with Peter Pan to never land
how about leading the way, Little Stevie
Yes, Stevie. Everybody should stop using the best resource available in terms of trade values, a week from the trade deadline, for the sake of you. You’re on the wrong site..
It may be the best, but you’re still better off not using it. No way BOS makes that trade.
@Darkside
Better off not using a model with a 94.3% acceptance rate and an average margin of error at $1.9 since 2019?
And yes, they may not accept that trade. Those are just the values of players selected by me, to create a hypothetical. Other players can be mixed and matched to even out the values.
D’India for Kelleher makes too much sense to happen.
Pirates already have half a dozen Indias.
Hold on.. Mick Kelleher is 75 years old… I think they might sign him and make this trade. They can always flip India.
This would be stupid and set the team back more years. At this point, while I like what Cherington is done for the most part, if he does this, it’s pretty much admitting he’s failed already and that he doesn’t believe in this team. I doubt they’d get the correct value for either player, they’d probably just get guys that cann’t break the other team’s lineup. And if these better teams can’t develop these guys, what makes you think the Pirates, who’ve been hideous in developing talent, will make them work???
Let this group play out and just tinker with it a bit. Don’t trade from areas where there’s no depth.
If trading 1 or 2 pitchers sets you back years you might as well completely rebuild again. Especially these two pitchers. If they are traded it will be very beneficial. Doubt they will be.
Both Keller and Bednar still have a few years of team control. The Pirates are going to want some good pieces in return for either one of them.
I could see the cardinals considering Gorman or walker for Bednar, Keller and another piece
Pirates wouldn’t want Gorman Walker for those 2. Especially not Gorman.
Pirates would be very lucky to get either. Bednar is a reliever and Keller is finally having a good season after being a bust for several. Pirates win that trade easy
And they should. Both would be good additions.
The Pirates are a woeful franchise they have a winnable division with plenty of talent, but stink every year.
Thank you for your relevant commentary on Bednar and Keller.
You could get good relievers from the cubs or nats a lot cheaper.
And they will.
Wow, if true, this is what the dbacks stacked those prospects for…. Bernard and Keller for Brandon pfadt, Jordan lawlar and Ivan, “The Hispanic Titanic” got both.
Good to see a fan realize it will take more than struggling prospects and busts to get a trade done.
That the Pirates think a 28 year closer is a building block tells you all you need to know about why the Pirates are lousy. Baltimore traded their closer just last year.
Bednar still has 3 years of control left before he’s eligible for free agency, Billg7987.
He’s a local guy and has a cult following in Pittsburgh
Plus he’s a premier closer
And the Bucs aren’t the O’s
But they don’t think he is a building block.
Billg7987- the Pirates don’t see him as a building block, only misguided fans do. The Bucs should jump on the right deal.
That was to say Bednar and Keller, was si excited I couldn’t type fast enough…. Beats the options that I know our owner, Ken “I gave all my money to Q Anon” Kendrick, Would never write the check for half the season for Scherzer or Verlander.
Pirates fans love to overvalue their relievers. Yes Bednar would cost a lot, but no way they would get the Martian.
Remember when pirates held out to try and get Dustin May, Gavin Lux ++ for their pedophile closer. Could have kick started the rebuild a lot faster if they had been reasonable.
Sure. Had they known he was never going to be able to throw a baseball again they would’ve taken anything. He was an extremely valuable reliever at that time. They would’ve gotten a gigantic haul for him had the situation not occurred. Not really one to discuss….
Wouldn’t have made a difference. May hasn’t been healthy enough to make a difference and it would be time to trade him. Lux hasn’t been good enough to matter. After what they received for 2 months of Watson they should have high demands if those demands were true.
Forst of all, Cutch isn’t leaving Pittsburg. He loves it there and wants to retire there. Secondly, all pirates are up for sale…. they have build a formidable team in forever… they are the Royals of the NL.. get top prospects, develop them, when they get good, trade them for prospects….
how would you like it if someone misspelled St. louis?
Pittsburgh has an “ H” in it
I don’t see either moving but either would bring a rather large return
Bednar came to the Pirates in the Musgrove trade (along with Endy) and he is controlled through what should be the meat of the window.
Keller also is controlled just a year less i think. They maybe listening on him since they think he might have over performed the past year?
either ‘should’ bring in some solid top 100 guys. Only way they do something like that though is if they are confident they can get pitching in the off season. Of course there could be something we don’t know.
I like what cherington does here. You don’t want to trade those 2 but there will be a huge demand for pitching at the deadline and if someone is willing to overpay big time you have to consider it.
I wouldn’t trade them for “fair value ” but if someone gives you vastly more than fair value then take the offer, especially if it is advanced prospects who are ready next year. And if you only get bad to fair offers you can just keep them.
They did the same before last off-season when they reportedly asked the mariners for Julio in a reynolds deal. Didn’t get it done but it’s worth a try.
They have done it in the past, trading for ready to be in the majors players and once in Pittsburgh, it’s easily proven that they need more time in the minors
This story is nonsense, though the fault is more with Heyman than MLB Rumors. This is the state of sports journalism in 2023. Heyman tweets a meaningless statement – every team is willing to listen to offers for anyone at any time. That in no way suggests that every team is seeking to trade any particular player at any time. Sports journalism has been reduces to fishing for clicks.