With Devin Williams struggling and Aaron Boone expressing an openness to letting other relievers close, David Bednar made a convincing case for the job in Wednesday’s 3-2 win over the Rangers.
Bednar, acquired from the Pirates last week, recorded a five-out, five-strikeout save in the victory, helping the Yankees avoid a sweep while maintaining the American League’s third wild card spot. The right-hander worked around two walks and some questionable calls while throwing a season-high 42 pitches in the process.
Bednar also survived a mound visit from Aaron Boone, who planned on pulling the pitcher for Camilo Doval for the final out. But Bednar convinced his manager to leave him in the game during the brief visit. With his new manager’s trust earned, Bednar went on to fan Adolis García on seven pitches, stranding two runners and ending the game.
“I told him I wanted him, and he agreed,” Bednar said, via the YES Network. “I just wanted to bear down and get that last one.”
“What a great, gutsy effort by Bed,” Boone added.
While Bednar’s first save with the Yankees came in dramatic fashion — and in his third appearance with the club — the 30-year-old is no stranger to closing.
Now in his seventh major league season, Bednar compiled 101 saves over five campaigns with his hometown Pirates. An All-Star in 2022 and 2023, Bednar led the National League with 39 saves in the latter season.
Bednar also had a 2.25 ERA from 2021-2023. While he scuffled in 2024, posting a 5.77 ERA, he tallied a 2.37 mark and 17 saves this season before being traded.
With another save on Wednesday, Bednar could be the Yankees’ present and future solution to the closer’s role, as he is under team control through the 2026 season. Meanwhile, Williams and Luke Weaver, another reliever with closing experience, are scheduled for free agency this winter.
The Yankees have avoided expensive contracts for relief pitchers in recent years, and there was already doubt that Williams would return before the team brought in not one, but two, potential successors.
The other alternative is Doval, who saved 107 games for the Giants after debuting for them in 2021. Doval has been more erratic than Bednar — he owns a lifetime 4.3 BB/9 ratio — but he has a 3.30 ERA for his career and gives the Yankees’ another tested closing option with Williams working himself out of high-leverage trust once again.
Doval is under team control through the 2027 season. With him and Bednar not going anywhere anytime soon, the backend of the Yankees’ bullpen is in strong shape moving forward.
