Yankees finally pull off blockbuster trade for All-Star closer fans have begged for

No trade target is without flaw, but in terms of perfect fit, the New York Yankees reportedly got their man on Thursday afternoon, with three hours to go before the trade deadline bell. David Bednar, the two-time All-Star closer of the Pittsburgh Pirates (and a hometown fan favorite) will be headed to the Yankees after days, if not weeks, of negotiation with Ben Cherington.

Bednar, widely predicted to be a Yankee in the deadline's final hours, ticks a number of boxes. The Yankees' woefully thin bullpen needs arms wherever they can get them, but they might as well aim high, and Bednar's on an all-time heater, striking out 51 men in 38 innings this season with a 2.37 ERA/1.96 WHIP. He comes with an additional season of control, hitting free agency following the 2026 season.

Bednar's 2024 season was brutal (5.77 ERA after a midseason meltdown), but he righted the ship after a demotion to Triple-A, turning himself from a "buy low" candidate back into a trade deadline jewel.

With prices rising, the Yankees appear to have stared down the barrel of missing out entirely on a high-leverage arm, and managed to orchestrate a shared blink, bringing Bednar to the Bronx.

New York Yankees acquire David Bednar from Pittsburgh Pirates

Ironically, it appears the Yankees have dipped into their untouchables pile slightly to acquire Bednar - or, at least, Jon Heyman's untouchables pile. The return begins with catcher Rafael Flores, a fast-riser who's continued to mash at Triple-A after a midseason promotion. The Yankees' catching pipeline continues to pay dividends in what appears to be a 3-for-1 deal. New York will also send 19-year-old catcher Edgleen Perez, renowned for his framing skills and ranked 14th in the system by MLB Pipeline, alongside Brian Sanchez, a center fielder with the Low-A Tampa Tarpons.

What's next for the Yankees? They still need bodies, preferably someone who can take rotation reps. Luis Gil's looming return is a big deal, especially after Marcus Stroman struggled again on Thursday, but a bonafide No. 4 starter could allow the Yankees to push Cam Schlittler to the 'pen, save his innings, and add an additional 100 MPH fastball to a unit that always seems to come up short on swing-and-miss and velocity.

For every Yankee fan worried Cashman was prepared to walk away from the deadline with nothing, though, your fears were unfounded. He got a Renegade with three hours to spare.