Pittsburgh Pirates Reportedly Listening to Trade Offers on All-Star Closer

As the trade deadline approaches, the Pittsburgh Pirates are reportedly willing to listen to offers on All-Star closer David Bednar.

The Pittsburgh Pirates, in last place in the National League Central entering play on Monday, are reportedly willing to listen to trade offers on All-Star closer David Bednar.

MLB Insider Jon Heyman had the report on social media:

Pirates are telling teams they’d listen on All-Star closer David Bednar but the understanding is that he’d be difficult to move since he isn’t a free agent until 2027. The Pittsburgh native (another plus for the Bucs) has a 1.15 ERA.

Pirates are telling teams they’d listen on All-Star closer David Bednar but the understanding is that he’d be difficult to move since he isn’t a free agent until 2027. The Pittsburgh native (another plus for the Bucs) has a 1.15 ERA.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 24, 2023

The 28-year-old is in his fifth year in the majors with the Padres and Pirates, having arrived in Pittsburgh in 2021. He's made the All-Star Game each of the last two seasons and has amassed 41 saves since arriving.

This year, he has the aforementioned 1.15 ERA to go along with 19 saves and a 3-1 record.

He would be a major help to any team looking for bullpen help but as Heyman reports, the cost is exceedingly high and he could end up staying in Pittsburgh.

The Pirates were the best story in baseball for the first two months of the season, spending much of that time in first place in the division, but they have really struggled since.

They enter play on Monday at 43-56 on the season. They have the third-worst winning percentage in the National League.

They'll open up a series with the Padres on Monday night. First pitch is slated for 9:40 p.m. ET as rookie Quinn Priester pitches against veteran Yu Darvish.

Priester is 0-1 with an 11.81 ERA.

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