Pirates make shocking (but necessary) move with David Bednar as struggles mount

Sep 7, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA;  Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher David Bednar (51) throws to the Washington Nationals at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Philip G. Pavely-Imagn Images
Sep 7, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher David Bednar (51) throws to the Washington Nationals at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Philip G. Pavely-Imagn Images | Philip G. Pavely-Imagn Images

If you thought the Pittsburgh Pirates promoting No. 3 prospect Thomas Harrington to make his first Major League start was a surprise, just wait until you hear about the corresponding roster move.

When the Pirates officially announced the Harrington promotion on Tuesday afternoon, they also announced that catcher Jason Delay had been designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster ... and that right-hander David Bednar had been optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis to make room on the 26-man active roster.

Yes, really. They actually did it.

Bednar, the 30-year-old Pittsburgh native who was demoted from the closer role last August amid the Pirates' epic late-season collapse, has given up three earned runs in three appearances for the Pirates this season, totaling exactly 1.0 innings of work. His ERA for 2025 sits at 27.00, and he has already recorded two losses on the season.

An MLB All-Star in 2022 and 2023, Bednar had a poor 2024 campaign that saw him finish 3-9 with a 5.77 ERA and 1.422 WHIP in 57 2/3 innings of work over 62 appearances. He recorded seven blown saves before getting yanked from the closer spot in favor of Aroldis Chapman and Dennis Santana.

Pirates News: David Bednar shockingly optioned to Triple-A

The hope was that Bednar's struggles in 2024 could be chalked up to the fact that he was sidelined for a significant portion of spring training due to injury and wasn't able to ramp up properly. In theory, those struggles would be rectified with a full spring training from a healthy Bednar in 2025; but that proved not to be the case.

Bednar is a two-time MLB All-Star in his seventh MLB season (fifth with the Pirates), and he led the National League in saves in 2023 with 39. It's not every day that players with résumés like that get optioned to Triple-A. But give credit where it's due to the Pirates and general manager Ben Cherington for making what couldn't have been an easy decision.

The Pirates, who have gone 1-4 to start the season, continue a three-game set against the Tampa Bay Rays at Steinbrenner Field on Tuesday evening as the bullpen carousel goes round and round.

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