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Why Yankees benefit from giving David Bednar the qualifying offer (even if he rejects it)

This would be a smart strategy by the Yankees.
ByPat Ragazzo
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Oct 5, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; New York Yankees pitcher David Bednar (53) delivers a pitch during the eighth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays in game two of the ALDS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Oct 5, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; New York Yankees pitcher David Bednar (53) delivers a pitch during the eighth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays in game two of the ALDS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Unlike last year, when the New York Yankees shouldn't have extended the qualifying offer to center fielder Trent Grisham, they should absolutely do so this time around with closer David Bednar (and purportedly plan to do so, per Jon Heyman). The 32-year-old was nails for the Yankees this past season and should be brought back ahead of 2027.

The qualifying offer is expected to go up to $23.15 million this offseason, per Joel Sherman of The New York Post. Would Bednar really accept it, as opposed to a multi-year deal? Maybe, maybe not, but we are going to get into why the Yankees should extend him the QO anyway.

Why the Yankees should extend the QO to Bednar

The Yankees must make re-signing Bednar a top priority in the offseason. Bednar went 7-3 with a 2.47 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 76 strikeouts, only 20 walks, a .205 batting average against, and was 35 for 39 in save chances in 69.1 innings. He also didn't allow a run in three postseason innings.

And while Bednar should get a multi-year deal from the Yankees, they still can offer him the one-year qualifying offer first because it would hurt his external market if he rejects it. By offering him the QO, it would scare other suitors away due to the fact that they would have to surrender a compensatory draft pick to the Yankees in order to sign Bednar.

Bednar certainly deserves a long-term deal on the open market after the performance he just had last season. The Yankees don't have an internal option to replace him with, which makes bringing Bednar back that much more important.

The Yankees can do right by Bednar by giving him a multi-year deal in free agency. But it would be wise of them to initially offer the QO to help minimize the competition from other closer-needy teams.

Why Bednar shouldn't accept the QO

As smart of a strategy as extending the QO to Bednar might be for the Yankees, the closer shouldn't accept it. Since being dealt by the Pittsburgh Pirates to the Yankees at the 2025 trade deadline, Bednar has a 2.39 ERA, 45 saves and a 2.9 bWAR in 94 innings.

Bednar is coming off one of the best years of his career, and he is already in his early 30s. It would be foolish for him to accept anything less than a multi-year deal in free agency. Bednar and his camp are aware of his value and how much the Yankees need him closing out games for them in the ninth inning.

For that, the two sides should come together on an agreement to bring Bednar back to the Bronx for several years to come. But first, the Yankees should offer Bednar the QO to hurt his external market, thus increasing their chances of re-signing him.

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