
Dodgers May Find Much-Needed Bullpen Help With All-Star Closer David Bednar
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
The Los Angeles Dodgers, despite their offseason intentions, have to go searching for bullpen help before the trade deadline.
While the Dodgers will have plenty of options to choose from, none will be cheap in a sellers' market. MLB insider Jeff Passan believes Los Angeles is a good fit for Pittsburgh Pirates closer David Bednar.
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - AUGUST 23: David Bednar #51 of the Pittsburgh Pirates celebrates with Joey Bart #14 after the final out of a 6-5 win over the Cincinnati Reds during the game at PNC Park...
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - AUGUST 23: David Bednar #51 of the Pittsburgh Pirates celebrates with Joey Bart #14 after the final out of a 6-5 win over the Cincinnati Reds during the game at PNC Park on August 23, 2024 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. More"In a market replete with relief options, 30-year-old Bednar brings high-end performance without quite the price tag of his peers," Passan wrote on Monday. "His swing-and-miss stuff has been elite since his return from Triple-A, and he has more than salvaged his trade value: Over his past 18 outings, Bednar has struck out 23, walked four and posted a 0.00 ERA."
Bednar appeared for the Pirates in Monday night's 3-0 win over the Detroit Tigers and struck out one batter en route to recording his 14th save of the season. This brings his strikeout-to-walk ratio up to 24-to-4 over his last 19 outings and has not conceded an earned run.
The Dodgers bullpen would certainly benefit from a closer of Bednar's pedigree as he has regained his All-Star form for the Pirates. He has 1 1/2 years of team control remaining so while Los Angeles wouldn't acquire him for peanuts, it also wouldn't have to sell the farm either.
Passan gives Bednar a 60% chance of being traded but believes several other teams will be pursuing him from the Pirates.
"Best fits: Detroit, Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia, New York Yankees, New York Mets, Chicago Cubs," wrote Passan.
Bednar would thrive in a late-inning role for the Dodgers as they pursue another World Series as long as they are willing to outbid other contenders for his services.
More MLB: Red Sox Would Make Common-Sense Home for All-Star First Baseman Josh Naylor

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


San Francisco Chronicle
8 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
The Kansas City Royals and pitcher Seth Lugo agree to 2-year extension, AP source says
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Royals and right-hander Seth Lugo have agreed to a two-year extension that includes a vesting option for the 2028 season, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Sunday night. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal, which presumably takes one of the most talked-about names on the trade market off the table ahead of this week's deadline, had not been officially announced. The 35-year-old Lugo made his first All-Star Game and won his first Gold Glove last season, when he went 16-9 with a 3.00 ERA in the first year of a two-year, $30 million deal that included a player option for next season. Lugo has followed that up with an even better start to this season, going 7-5 with a 2.95 ERA through 19 outings for Kansas City. Rumors surfaced of several contenders interested in trading for Lugo ahead of Thursday's deadline, and the fact that the Royals have been hanging on the fringe of contention themselves left many wondering whether they would be buyers or sellers. It appears that they are going to make a push for a second consecutive playoff appearance. The Royals acquired outfielder Randal Grichuk from the Diamondbacks for reliever Andrew Hoffmann late Saturday, shoring up a weakness in the lineup by adding a right-handed bat. Now, they have indicated that Lugo remains big a part of their future with his extension — an especially timely one given it came the same day that All-Star pitcher Kris Bubic went on the injured list. Kansas City also is missing starters Cole Ragans and Michael Lorenzen due to injuries. Both are expected back at some point in August, and the Royals are hopeful that their return to the rotation will propel them down the stretch run. ___


Fox Sports
8 minutes ago
- Fox Sports
The Kansas City Royals and pitcher Seth Lugo agree to 2-year extension, AP source says
Associated Press KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Royals and right-hander Seth Lugo have agreed to a two-year extension that includes a vesting option for the 2028 season, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Sunday night. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal, which presumably takes one of the most talked-about names on the trade market off the table ahead of this week's deadline, had not been officially announced. The 35-year-old Lugo made his first All-Star Game and won his first Gold Glove last season, when he went 16-9 with a 3.00 ERA in the first year of a two-year, $30 million deal that included a player option for next season. Lugo has followed that up with an even better start to this season, going 7-5 with a 2.95 ERA through 19 outings for Kansas City. Rumors surfaced of several contenders interested in trading for Lugo ahead of Thursday's deadline, and the fact that the Royals have been hanging on the fringe of contention themselves left many wondering whether they would be buyers or sellers. It appears that they are going to make a push for a second consecutive playoff appearance. The Royals acquired outfielder Randal Grichuk from the Diamondbacks for reliever Andrew Hoffmann late Saturday, shoring up a weakness in the lineup by adding a right-handed bat. Now, they have indicated that Lugo remains big a part of their future with his extension — an especially timely one given it came the same day that All-Star pitcher Kris Bubic went on the injured list. Kansas City also is missing starters Cole Ragans and Michael Lorenzen due to injuries. Both are expected back at some point in August, and the Royals are hopeful that their return to the rotation will propel them down the stretch run. After beating the Guardians on Sunday, the Royals were four games back of the final American League wild-card spot. ___ AP MLB: recommended Item 1 of 3


San Francisco Chronicle
8 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Giants swept by Mets to fall 3 back in wild-card race and within 2 games of .500
The San Francisco Giants deployed a bullpen game to get through Sunday's series finale against the New York Mets, and it was their most reliable arm that relinquished a slim lead in a sweep-clinching 5-3 loss. Randy Rodriguez, one of baseball's stingiest relievers, had allowed one home run (All-Star Game excluded) all season heading into the series finale. Clutching a one-run lead, Rodriguez broke character at the worst time when Ronny Mauricio launched a Splash Hit to tie the game 3-3. Two outs later, Soto gave New York the lead with a home run to left. Not only was it the first time Rodriguez had allowed a home run since April 29 against the San Diego Padres, it was the first time he'd allowed multiple runs in an outing since that day at Petco Park. Plus, with the team needing a little extra from its entire pitching staff, it was the fifth time all season that Rodriguez pitched more than an inning. Until that point, the bullpen had mostly kept the Mets' best hitters at bay – Mauricio, the nine hitter, had a four-hit day. Matt Gage, a 2014 Giants draft pick, came full circle as the Giants' opener. He needed just 10 pitches to get through a clean first inning, giving way for a bullpen game that saw seven relievers cycle through. Spencer Bivens was the bulk reliever, allowing two runs over three innings on six hits with three strikeouts. Matt Chapman provided the Giants all their runs with a two-homer day. His solo home run in the fourth inning tied the game and his two-run homer, his 16th of the year, gave the Giants a short-lived 3-2 lead. With the loss, the Giants fell three games back of the third and final wild-card spot are are now just two games over .500 at 54-52. Overshadowing Chapman's home runs was another day of missed opportunities. The Giants were 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position, finishing the weekend series 0-for-23. One miss came in the second inning, when Mike Yastrzemski walked and Dom Smith, playing against his former team, singled to put runners on the corners. But the bottom of the order couldn't execute with one out as both Patrick Bailey and Brett Wisely struck out to strand the runners. In the third inning, Heliot Ramos got caught in an indecision between second and third base when Willy Adames made contact on a check swing, resulting in something of a swinging bunt. Ramos made a hasty decision to try to sneak into third base, where third baseman Mauricio tagged him out easily to end the inning. They loaded the bases against Mets closer Edwin Diaz in the ninth inning, the tying run at second with one out. But Adames and Chapman struck out to end it and give the Mets their seventh straight win. Briefly: Carson Whisenhunt's debut could be on deck for Monday's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Giants' top pitching prospect joined the team in San Francisco as a member of the taxi squad on Sunday, at the ready in case the organization needs to make a roster move. Whisenhunt isn't on the 40-man roster. The 24-year-old left-hander known for a nasty changeup has a 4.52 ERA, 86 strikeouts and 28 walks in 18 starts with Triple-A Sacramento this year.