This New York Yankees pitcher has provided an update on his contract status.
Last season, the New York Yankees made a bunch of additions at the MLB trade deadline in an attempt to bolster their roster for a playoff push.
Many of those acquisitions came in the bullpen, where the Yankees struggled for much of the 2025 campaign. The biggest of all was David Bednar, who went on to post a 2.19 ERA while racking up 35 strikeouts over 24.2 innings of work in the Bronx last year.
Bednar has one year of team control remaining, so he is currently slated to hit free agency at the end of 2026.
Would New York consider breaking protocol and signing him to an extension?
There has been some buzz about a potential long-term contract for Bednar lately, and the right-hander provided an update on his situation this week.
You probably won't be surprised at Bednar's answer, as he told Gary Phillips of The New York Daily News that no such discussions were held.
The Yankees do not typically give extensions before a player hits free agency, and clearly, Bednar will be no exception.
New York Yankees pitcher David Bednar. Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images.But if the 31-year-old — who is pitching for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic — continues to perform well this season, New York will definitely have to give serious consideration to keeping him for the long haul, even if the Yanks have generally not paid big money for relievers in recent years.
Bednar made his major-league debut with the San Diego Padres in 2019 and spent two years with the Padres before being dealt to the Pittsburgh Pirates in January 2021. Considering Bednar is a Pittsburgh native, he welcomed the move.
The flamethrower then proceeded to spend four-and-a-half seasons with the Pirates, making a pair All-Star appearances and managing a 3.01 ERA while averaging 11 strikeouts per nine innings. Bednar even led the National League with 39 saves in 2023.
Bednar is expected to be the Yankees' closer in 2026 after saving 10 games for them last season. He will be part of a bullpen that will also include Camilo Doval, Jake Bird and Fernando Cruz, the former two of whom were also acquired at the deadline last July.
We'll see if Bednar can replicate his success this year.
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