Emmanuel Clase gambling drama turns spotlight on Pirates' David Bednar trade rumors

Pittsburgh Pirates closer David Bednar has rebounded from a rough 2024 season and is now having one of the best years of his career. In 37 innings, Bednar owns a 2.19 ERA, 1.93 FIP, and 1.05 WHIP. He is striking out over a third of opponents with a 34.5% K%, and has a walk rate of just 6.5%. Bednar has not allowed an earned run since May 23. The right-hander’s rebound has been nothing short of spectacular, and it has made him a talked-about commodity with the deadline approaching. Given the scarcity of relief options on the market and Bednar's return to game-changing status, the Pirates cannot botch a trade if they end up moving him.

Relievers at the deadline usually net pretty impressive returns. At last year’s deadline, the Miami Marlins sent closer Tanner Scott and fellow reliever Bryan Hoeing to the San Diego Padres for a prospect package of four players. Of those four prospects, one is a consensus top 100 prospect in Robby Snelling. Another, Graham Pauley, is already in the Major Leagues. Adam Mazur is a top pitching prospect in the Marlins’ system and has some experience in the Majors. 

That wasn’t the only significant trade involving a relief pitcher last year. The Padres also acquired Jason Adam from the Tampa Bay Rays for three top prospects. One was 2022 first-round pick Dylan Lesko. Homer Bush Jr., another prospect they got in this deal, is a top 20 prospect in the Rays’ usually loaded farm system.

The Pirates botching a David Bednar trade just cannot happen.

Those are far from the only trades that netted their teams good prospects. Carlos Estevez got the LA Angels George Klassen, a top-five prospect in their system. The Marlins received Deyvison De Los Santos for A.J. Puk. De Los Santos is a top 20 prospect in their farm system. Good relievers usually get a lot at the deadline, and Bednar is one of the best relief pitchers in baseball this season. That rings even truer on Monday afternoon, when pie-in-the-sky trade candidate Emmanuel Clase of the Guardians was placed on non-disciplinary leave for a gambling investigation, throwing an absurd wrench in things.

There is no reason Bednar can’t top any of these deals. He’s pitching better than most of these names prior to getting traded, and is under control through 2026. If the Pirates trade their closer, they should be getting back one top 100 prospect, at the very least. If anything, they should be demanding a player who has already had some success at the Major League level.

Botching a Bednar trade might be the worst possible thing Ben Cherington could do, besides trading another top starting pitcher. If Cherington trades Bednar, he could get a massive return that could help the offense immediately. If Cherington doesn’t get that, then he just wasted Bednar’s best seasons, his team control through 2026, and a fan-favorite closer.