The New York Yankees announced that they have acquired two-time All-Star right-handed pitcher David Bednar from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for Minor League catchers Rafael Flores and Edgleen Pérez, and Minor League outfielder Brian Sánchez.
Bednar, 30, has gone 2-5 with 17 saves and a 2.37 ERA (38.0IP, 32H, 12R/10ER, 10BB, 51K, 2HR) in 42 relief appearances with the Pirates this season. He has converted each of his 17 save opportunities this year, posting the best save percentage in the Majors. Among National League relievers this season, he ranks fifth in strikeout rate (33.1%) and seventh in strikeouts per 9.0 innings pitched (12.08) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.10). He has held left-handed hitters to a .162/.240/.176 (11-for-68, 0HR) slash line.
He has not allowed an earned run in 23 of his last 24 games (since 5/24), going 2-1 with 13 saves, a 0.39 ERA (23.1IP, 1ER) and 29K during that stretch. His 23-game streak without an earned run from May 24 – July 26 was the longest of his career.
Over his last 39 games (since 4/19), he recorded 16 saves with a 1.70 ERA (37.0IP, 7ER) and 50K. He was named the National League “Reliever of the Month” for June after not allowing an earned run over 10 relief appearances (10.0IP, 4H, 1R/0ER, 3BB, 16K), going 2-1 with five saves in that span.
In 293 career relief appearances over parts of seven Major League seasons with the San Diego Padres (2019-20) and Pittsburgh Pirates (2021-25), he has gone 14-23 with 101 saves and a 3.23 ERA (292.2IP, 242H, 122R/105ER, 101BB, 354K, 27HR). Since 2022, he ranks sixth among Major League relievers in saves (98) and seventh in save percentage (87.5).
The Pittsburgh, Pa., native was originally selected by San Diego in the 35th round of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft out of Lafayette College (Pa.). He was acquired by the Pirates from the Padres in a five-player three-team trade that involved the Mets on Jan. 19, 2021. The Pirates also acquired OF Hudson Head, LHP Omar Cruz and RHP Drake Fellows from San Diego and C Endy Rodríguez from the Mets. The Padres acquired RHP Joe Musgrove from the Pirates and the Mets acquired LHP Joey Lucchesi from the Padres.
Flores, 24, has batted .279/.351/.475 (104-for-373) with 51R, 23 doubles, one triple, 16HR, 60RBI, 41BB and 6SB in 97 combined games with Double-A Somerset and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this season. Over parts of four Minor League seasons in the Yankees organization (2022-25), he has batted .274/.361/.453 (330-for-1,203) with 171R, 70 doubles, two triples, 47HR, 175RBI, 156BB and 17SB in 328 games. The Anaheim, Calif., native was signed by the Yankees as a non-drafted free agent on July 25, 2022. Flores attended Río Hondo College (Calif).
Pérez, 19, has hit .209 (63-for-301) with 41R, eight doubles, 26RBI, 68BB and 5SB in 83 games with Single-A Tampa in 2025. Over parts of three Minor League seasons in the Yankees organization (2023-25), the catcher has batted .241 (146-for-606) with 98R, 24 doubles, one triple, two home runs, 79RBI, 143BB and 14SB over 173 games. The Valencia, Venezuela, native was signed by the Yankees as a non-drafted free agent on March 6, 2023.
Sánchez, 21, has batted .281/.373/.438 (68-for-242) with 39R, 16 doubles, five triples, four home runs, 36RBI, 36BB and 24SB in 63 games with Single-A Tampa this season. Over parts of three Minor League seasons in the Milwaukee Brewers (2023) and Yankees (2024-25) organizations, the outfielder has hit .293/.389/.465 (151-for-516) with 39 doubles, 13 triples, eight home runs, 87RBI, 79BB and 48SB in 145 games. The Cumanacoa, Venezuela, native was originally signed by Milwaukee as a non-drafted free agent on Feb. 7, 2023. Sánchez was then acquired by the Yankees along with OF Jace Avina from Milwaukee in exchange for INF/OF Jake Bauers on Nov. 17, 2023.
