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MLB insider links pair of Pirates relievers to Phillies in trade after Jose Alvarado suspension

ByEmma Lingan|
May 14, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher David Bednar (51) reacts during the eighth inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
May 14, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher David Bednar (51) reacts during the eighth inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images

The 2025 MLB Trade Deadline is still months away, but extenuating circumstances may force some teams to become buyers a little earlier than anticipated.

Needless to say, the Pittsburgh Pirates are not one of those teams. They currently own the second-worst record in the National League, and they are more than a piece or two away from being a legitimate playoff contender (or, you know, a team that finishes a season at or above .500). Their in-state rivals, however, are another story.

The Philadelphia Phillies sit atop the NL standings with a 30-18 record, but they just lost their best reliever in José Alvarado to an 80-game suspension for violating the league’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment program. The Phillies, a team with World Series aspirations, have since been left scrambling to strengthen their bullpen in his absence.

While it's unlikely that the Phillies (or any team, really) are looking at the Pirates' bullpen and turning green with envy, one MLB insider believes that Pittsburgh may have some enticing trade chips to offer a desperate Philadelphia team in an early season deal.

MLB insider links pair of Pirates relievers to Phillies in trade after José Alvarado suspension

In a recent look at the Phillies' bullpen options following the Alvarado suspension, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com named not one, but two Pirates relievers as potential trade candidates.

Right-hander Dennis Santana, Feinsand wrote, could interest Philadelphia with his 1.96 ERA in four saves in 19 appearances this season. Factor in his $1.4 million salary and two years of arbitration remaining until free agency, and Santana could be particularly appealing to the Phillies at the right price.

"David Bednar of the Pirates might be the most intriguing early-season trade option," Feinsand wrote. "The two-time All-Star has overcome a rocky start to the season, posting a 2.31 ERA over his past 12 appearances, striking out 18 while walking only one batter in 11 2/3 innings. Bednar is earning $5.9 million this season and is arbitration-eligible for one more year."

While Feinsand's use of "intriguing" as a descriptor for Bednar is questionable at best, his argument would have been stronger before the right-hander's complete and utter meltdown that cost him the Pirates' closer role in 2024. His so-called "rocky start" to 2025 was merely a continuation of that and led to a demotion to Triple-A on April 1.

Bednar has definitely been better since his return with 10 scoreless outings out of the 14 that he's pitched in that time, plus four saves in four opportunities. Still, the risk in trading for Bednar at this juncture might be too great for the Phillies to take on.

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