Yankees rumors suggest they're zeroing in on trade for Pirates All-Star closer

The New York Yankees must be keenly aware of both the prices for rental relievers and the state of the roster, by this point. So, if you're going to pay a Taylor Rogers-inspired premium to upgrade for 2025 anyway ... you might as well build for 2026 as well.

With under 24 hours to go before the trade deadline, YES Network's Jack Curry is your go-to source for up-to-the-minute updates on the Yankees' pursuits. In order to see his latest intel on Wednesday night, though, you had to head to Amazon Prime, a very normal place for a baseball game to be broadcast (and we love it).

After analyzing JC Escarra's temporary (?) demotion and the Yankees' trade for Austin Slater, Curry updated viewers on the Yankees' chase for pitching, pitching and more pitching.

With prices rising, the Yankees seem - wink, wink, WINK - very keyed in on Pirates closer David Bednar, the only specific name that Curry mentioned on the pregame show. Bednar, following a second-half collapse last season and a demotion to Triple-A, has returned to being one of the best closers in baseball on a permanent basis this season, striking out 51 men in 38 innings with a 2.37 ERA/1.96 FIP.

Yankees Rumors: David Bednar trade with Pirates clear focus one day ahead of trade deadline

What would a Bednar package look like? We've been led to believe the Pirates have been heavily scouting flamethrower (and that's putting it lightly) Carlos Lagrange. Based on the prices that pieces have been going for this week, he'd be a solid centerpiece, but wouldn't fulfill the Pirates' desire to beef up their offense. Maybe the Yankees could add an MLB ready-ish piece like Roc Riggio and out-of-options Oswald Peraza (or not-out-of-options Escarra) and beat the rush?

Other teams reportedly involved on Bednar include the Tigers, Dodgers and Mariners, according to MLB insider Bob Nightengale, and the price is only getting higher.

In the kindest way possible ... this might be the Yankees' last chance to deal with a familiar face in Pittsburgh's Ben Cherington. The pairing makes all the sense in the world, and when Curry speaks, he's worth listening to. Keep your eyes peeled and your notifications turned on.