<p>The <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/">Toronto Blue Jays</a> could use an infusion of talent into the bullpen for the stretch run, as they try to secure the American League East title for the first time since 2015.</p>
<p>The bullpen group has done an admirable job, <a href="https://publish.bluejaysnation.com/2025/05/21/toronto-blue-jays-brendon-little-went-from-being-involved-in-small-trade-to-one-best-left-handed-relievers-in-baseball/">far exceeding preseason expectations</a> to rank in the top half of the league in a number of key pitching categories. Despite that, the need for another impact arm who can miss bats is of paramount importance in the days leading up to the MLB trade deadline on July 31.</p>
<p>The Pittsburgh Pirates are once again one of baseball&#8217;s worst teams, making them a logical trade partner in the Blue Jays&#8217; quest to fortify the bullpen. Right-hander David Bednar stands out as a very intriguing option for what the Blue Jays should be looking for.</p>
<p>Bednar, a two-time All-Star, led the National League in saves in 2023 before struggling to the tune of a 5.77 ERA and seven blown saves last season. His issues continued into the start of 2025, as Bednar posted a 5.63 ERA in the first month or so of the campaign. Since then, the 30-year-old has recaptured his past form, posting a sparkling 1.24 ERA with 13 saves, 12.72 K/9, and 1.1 fWAR across his last 31 appearances.</p>
<h2>Scouting report</h2>
<p>Bednar stands at 6-foot-1 and is primarily a two-pitch pitcher with a fastball and a curveball. He also occasionally mixes in a splitter, which can be devastating, with a 44.4% whiff rate. The curveball has held opposing batters to a paltry .175 batting average, .200 slugging percentage, zero home runs, and a strong 39.4% whiff rate this season.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">David Bednar, Vicious Curveballs. 😤 <a href="https://t.co/mr3uTnbmDr">pic.twitter.com/mr3uTnbmDr</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) <a href="https://twitter.com/PitchingNinja/status/1949286755003445728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 27, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Outside of 2024, Bednar has historically done an excellent job of limiting walks. He owns a career 3.12 BB/9 and is only giving up a free pass to 2.43 batters per nine innings so far this season. The combination of piling up strikeouts while also avoiding walks is an excellent recipe to be a quality high-leverage arm.</p>
<h2>Contract situation</h2>
<p>Bednar is earning $5.9 million this year in his second season of arbitration eligibility. He&#8217;s arb-eligible for the 2026 campaign, as well, before he&#8217;s scheduled to become a free agent. Even with the Blue Jays finding themselves well past the competitive balance tax, Bednar&#8217;s salary for this year and projected earnings for 2026 wouldn&#8217;t require much in the way of financial gymnastics. It&#8217;s more a case of paying the acquisition cost to the Pirates, as opposed to any challenge related to fitting Bednar&#8217;s salary into the payroll.</p>
<h2>How does Bednar help the Blue Jays?</h2>
<p>Bednar looks as good as ever in his seventh MLB season. Whether pitching in the ninth inning or earlier, Bednar&#8217;s repertoire and track record would be a huge boost to a Blue Jays bullpen that still feels at least one high-quality arm away from being truly complete.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">100 for the Renegade!</p>
<p>David Bednar is one of only five pitchers in Pirates history with 100 career saves 👏 <a href="https://t.co/gkqivWwnw0">pic.twitter.com/gkqivWwnw0</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) <a href="https://twitter.com/Pirates/status/1949286518280929759?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 27, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Bednar could help form a dynamic one-two punch at the back of the bullpen alongside closer Jeff Hoffman. It would give manager John Schneider another proven option to turn to in the late innings, and a possible replacement with experience to fill in the void left by Yimi García&#8217;s ongoing absence due to an elbow issue.</p>
<p>Acquiring the Pirates right-hander won&#8217;t come cheap, but it looks like a worthy pathway to pursue, as the Blue Jays try to shore up any roster holes to put themselves in the best position down the stretch.</p>
<hr />
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The <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/">Toronto Blue Jays</a> could use an infusion of talent into the bullpen for the stretch run, as they try to secure the American League East title for the first time since 2015.

The bullpen group has done an admirable job, <a href="https://publish.bluejaysnation.com/2025/05/21/toronto-blue-jays-brendon-little-went-from-being-involved-in-small-trade-to-one-best-left-handed-relievers-in-baseball/">far exceeding preseason expectations</a> to rank in the top half of the league in a number of key pitching categories. Despite that, the need for another impact arm who can miss bats is of paramount importance in the days leading up to the MLB trade deadline on July 31.

The Pittsburgh Pirates are once again one of baseball's worst teams, making them a logical trade partner in the Blue Jays' quest to fortify the bullpen. Right-hander David Bednar stands out as a very intriguing option for what the Blue Jays should be looking for.

Bednar, a two-time All-Star, led the National League in saves in 2023 before struggling to the tune of a 5.77 ERA and seven blown saves last season. His issues continued into the start of 2025, as Bednar posted a 5.63 ERA in the first month or so of the campaign. Since then, the 30-year-old has recaptured his past form, posting a sparkling 1.24 ERA with 13 saves, 12.72 K/9, and 1.1 fWAR across his last 31 appearances.
<h2>Scouting report</h2>
Bednar stands at 6-foot-1 and is primarily a two-pitch pitcher with a fastball and a curveball. He also occasionally mixes in a splitter, which can be devastating, with a 44.4% whiff rate. The curveball has held opposing batters to a paltry .175 batting average, .200 slugging percentage, zero home runs, and a strong 39.4% whiff rate this season.

https://twitter.com/PitchingNinja/status/1949286755003445728

Outside of 2024, Bednar has historically done an excellent job of limiting walks. He owns a career 3.12 BB/9 and is only giving up a free pass to 2.43 batters per nine innings so far this season. The combination of piling up strikeouts while also avoiding walks is an excellent recipe to be a quality high-leverage arm.
<h2>Contract situation</h2>
Bednar is earning $5.9 million this year in his second season of arbitration eligibility. He's arb-eligible for the 2026 campaign, as well, before he's scheduled to become a free agent. Even with the Blue Jays finding themselves well past the competitive balance tax, Bednar's salary for this year and projected earnings for 2026 wouldn't require much in the way of financial gymnastics. It's more a case of paying the acquisition cost to the Pirates, as opposed to any challenge related to fitting Bednar's salary into the payroll.
<h2>How does Bednar help the Blue Jays?</h2>
Bednar looks as good as ever in his seventh MLB season. Whether pitching in the ninth inning or earlier, Bednar's repertoire and track record would be a huge boost to a Blue Jays bullpen that still feels at least one high-quality arm away from being truly complete.

https://twitter.com/Pirates/status/1949286518280929759

Bednar could help form a dynamic one-two punch at the back of the bullpen alongside closer Jeff Hoffman. It would give manager John Schneider another proven option to turn to in the late innings, and a possible replacement with experience to fill in the void left by Yimi García's ongoing absence due to an elbow issue.

Acquiring the Pirates right-hander won't come cheap, but it looks like a worthy pathway to pursue, as the Blue Jays try to shore up any roster holes to put themselves in the best position down the stretch.

<hr />

<a href="https://nationgear.ca/collections/bluejaysnation"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-85322" src="https://publish.bluejaysnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2099/08/VLADDY_BJN-Merch_727x404_01.png" alt="" width="727" height="404" /></a>

Celebrate <a href="https://nationgear.ca/collections/bluejaysnation">Vladdy’s big news</a> in style with the <em>exclusive</em> new <a href="https://nationgear.ca/collections/bluejaysnation">BlueJaysNation Vladdy merch</a> — available only at <a href="https://nationgear.ca/collections/bluejaysnation">NationGear.ca</a>! Rep a future Hall of Famer and wear your team's pride loud. Limited drop. Don’t miss out.

Blue Jays trade deadline target: David Bednar

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