Through approximately the first week of the MLB season, Los Angeles Dodgers closer Evan Phillips leads the league with 3 saves. But Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer hasn’t excluded the chance of the Dodgers adding another closer to their roster this season.
Rymer named the Dodgers a potential fit for Pittsburgh Pirates closer David Bednar.
“As a trade chip, Bednar isn’t a hard sell. The last three seasons have seen him pitch to a 2.25 ERA with strikeout rates in the 94th, 94th and 85th percentiles,” Rymer wrote. “Add in that he’s under club control for this season and the next two, and he’s a mighty valuable chip for Pittsburgh to cash in if opportunity knocks.”
Bednar was not available for the Pirates on opening day because of a lat injury. However, he still appeared in two of the team’s opening series contests against the Miami Marlins.
In those two games, Bednar allowed 1 run on a solo homer and struck out 2 while facing 7 batters.
Over the past two seasons, though, Bednar has allowed just 0.5 home runs and 2.8 walks per nine innings pitched. Meanwhile, he’s struck out 149 while posting a 2.27 ERA and 1.109 WHIP in 119 innings.
Bednar was an All-Star for the Pirates in 2022 and 2023.
