Another loss Sunday, this one 8-4 in 10 innings to the San Francisco Giants, completing a miserable weekend at PNC Park. That makes 44 losses in the past 65 games. The worst extended run in franchise history since the early-1950s continues with no end in sight. We're talking about a really pathetic team.
Shame on the Pirates.
Another game without David Bednar getting a save opportunity, although he did pitch a one-two-three ninth inning with the game tied, 3-3. One of the best hammers in baseball hardly ever gets to do what he does best — close out a win.
Shame again on the Pirates.
It's hard to remember any team wasting a wonderful talent the way the Pirates have with Bednar. He has been excellent all season. His 1.22 earned-run average ranks second among National League relievers. His WHIP is 0.95. His strikeout-to-walk ratio is a ridiculous 45-to-7. He has given up one home run all season, to the Texas Rangers' Josh Jung on May 22.
But Bednar has just 17 saves in 18 chances, the blown save coming April 11 against the Houston Astros in large part because of a throwing error by Rodolfo Castro. His saves ranked tied for only 11th in MLB going into Sunday's games. He has had just eight save opportunities since April 29. That is a span covering all of May and June and half of July.
Derek Shelton has reached the point where he is using Bednar for more than one inning in an effort to get him work. It has happened four times since June 24. Shelton has done this reluctantly because multiple innings led to time on the injured list for Bednar last season. On Saturday night, against the Giants, Shelton called on Bednar in the eighth inning of a 1-1 game with runners on first and second base with one out. Bednar gave up a run-scoring single to Michael Conforto in what became a 3-1 loss.
I'm starting to think there might be something to the speculation that has the Pirates moving Bednar before the trade deadline on Aug. 1.
What did former Pirates general manager Branch Rickey tell Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner before trading him all those years ago?
"We finished last with you, we can finish last without you."
It's certainly understandable why Bednar's name has been linked to trade talks and why any number of contending teams would want him. Closers — actually, late-inning relievers — are coveted at the trade deadline. The Pirates don't have a player with more trade value.
Ben Cherington would be foolish not to see what another club might offer for Bednar.
There are two reasons beyond Bednar's excellence and the haul he would bring back to think a trade could happen:
One, the way the Pirates are going, it is hard to imagine them being a serious contender next season. Their youth moment is just getting started with Quinn Priester, who is expected to start Monday night against the Cleveland Guardians, the latest to be promoted from Triple-A. Why not at least consider a trade that would put them in a better position in 2025?
And two, former Pirates general manager Neal Huntington always said closer was a team's most fluid position. Translation: Most clubs don't have a Mariano Rivera who is terrific year after year. Closers tend to come and go. The Pirates found at least some success the most recent time they had competitive teams, transitioning from Joel Hanrahan to Jason Grilli to Mark Melancon in a five-year period.
But there also are two reasons why a Bednar trade seems highly unlikely:
One — and this probably is most important to the frugal Pirates — Bednar works cheaply. His salary this season is $745,000, although he surely will get a significant raise next season, the first of his three salary-arbitration years. He won't be an unrestricted free agent until after the 2026 season.
And two, a Bednar trade would mean a nasty public-relations hit for the Pirates. He is a local kid from Mars. Fans love him and have embraced him as one of their own. He is living out his dream of playing for his hometown team.
Bottom line:
Cherington must receive an offer he can't refuse in order to trade Bednar. If he gets it, he should make the deal.
