Pirates could cash in on high-value reliever with this Rangers mock trade

David Bednar is finally back to his old self, and just in time for the MLB Trade Deadline. The Pirates are looking to cash in on the veteran closer, as his value is sky high once again. The Rangers appear to be in the hunt for a dependable closer, as they have split time between two options this season. Given the openness of the AL Wild Card race, there certainly could be a fit here.

Texas also possesses a farm system that could help the Pirates improve their offensive future. After all, that must be what Pittsburgh is after this trade deadline. This mock trade would help the organization down the road, as Bednar will likely request a contract near $8 million following the season, his final arbitration year before entering free agency.

Bednar is well deserving of a payday, too, as he has his highest K/9 ever with a 12.69. He also has his lowest BB/9 in his career with a 2.60 mark this season. That has aided in an impressive 2.93 ERA, with a 2.18 FIP indicating his numbers can still improve. Bednar is truly pitching like an All-Star, and would really help Texas push for a playoff berth. His market will be hot in a few weeks, and this is what the Pirates should be after for a deal involving the two-time All-Star.

This Pirates-Rangers mock trade for David Bednar would really improve the future for Pittsburgh.

With the Pirates lacking offensive talent throughout the organization, the headline of the proposed return would be Dylan Dreiling, the Rangers' second-round pick from 2024. Coming in as the seventh-ranked prospect in the organization, per Baseball America, Dreiling is a 22-year-old in High-A.

He has gotten off to a bit of a slow start, batting .226 with seven home runs and a .707 OPS. His wRC+ sits at 105, five points above average, and he has a solid 19% strikeout rate and 12.8% walk rate. He would instantly become the top outfield prospect in the Pirates' organization and would be expected to join the team in late 2026.

Mitch Bratt would be the other proposed piece - the Rangers' 15th-ranked prospect, according to Baseball America, who resides in Double-A. The left-handed pitching prospect has excellent stuff to work with, and the Pirates desperately need southpaws. He is closer to the big leagues than Anthony Solometo, so this could be very valuable to the team's long-term pitching outlook.

This season, Bratt has posted a 2.15 ERA with a 2.60 FIP and a 10.77 K/9 across 62.2 innings pitched. His big trait is limiting the free passes with a 1.29 BB/9. With all this trade talk about the veterans in the rotation including Mitch Keller, Andrew Heaney, and Bailey Falter, it wouldn't hurt to add another arm into the mix to refurbish the major league roster.

A deal like this would be what the Pirates should be looking for in a deal for Bednar with Texas. They very well could compete in 2026, so getting talent that could help them contend should be the goal at the deadline.