{"id":105006,"date":"2025-07-29T16:40:34","date_gmt":"2025-07-29T20:40:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=105006"},"modified":"2025-07-29T16:40:34","modified_gmt":"2025-07-29T20:40:34","slug":"blue-jays-bednar-santana","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/07\/29\/blue-jays-bednar-santana\/","title":{"rendered":"Blue Jays Join Bidding for Pirates Relievers"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The Toronto Blue Jays have discussed relief pitchers <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/b\/bednada01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-07-29_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">David Bednar<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/s\/santade01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-07-29_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Dennis Santana<\/a> with the Pittsburgh Pirates. This, according to a report by baseball insider Jon Morosi. Per an article by Noah Hiles in the July 29 edition of the <em>Pittsburgh Post-Gazette<\/em>, the Detroit Tigers, <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/07\/05\/phillies-reportedly-interested-pirates-pitchers-bednar-santana\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">Philadelphia Phillies<\/a>, and Texas Rangers have all expressed interest in the two Pirates relievers, confirming previously reported rumored interest from those clubs. Toronto\u2019s entry is the big story now. With Cleveland Guardians closer <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/c\/claseem01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-07-29_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Emmanuel Clase<\/a> having recently been put on <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/07\/28\/emmanuel-clase-placed-non-disciplinary-paid-mlb\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">non-disciplinary paid leave<\/a>, suddenly closers like Bednar have shot up in value<\/p>\n<h2>Blue Jays Inquired About Bednar and Santana<\/h2>\n<p>Pirates general manager Ben Cherington is on record as looking to obtain major-league-ready hitters. If they\u2019re left-handed hitters, all the better. A <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/07\/27\/rumor-cubs-would-include-owen-caissie-deal-for-mitch-keller\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">recent rumor<\/a> had the Chicago Cubs willing to offer their No. 1 prospect, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/register\/player.fcgi?id=caissi000owe&amp;utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-07-29_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Owen Caissie<\/a>, in a deal for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/k\/kellemi03.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-07-29_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Mitch Keller<\/a>. Presumably, Caissie fits the profile of the type of hitter Cherington would seek in exchange for Bednar, too.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">The Blue Jays and Pirates have discussed trade possibilities that would involve a reliever going to Toronto, sources say.<\/p>\n<p>David Bednar and Dennis Santana are Pittsburgh\u2019s top bullpen trade candidates; both are eligible for free agency after \u201926.<a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MLBNetwork?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@MLBNetwork<\/a> <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FAN590?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@FAN590<\/a> <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Sportsnet?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@Sportsnet<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/jonmorosi\/status\/1950200137789120548?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">July 29, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>The Blue Jays may not have that type of hitter in their system to offer for Bednar. Hiles reports that the Pirates would seek a top-five prospect at a minimum. Toronto\u2019s top five prospects include four pitchers. Their No. 1 prospect, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/register\/player.fcgi?id=nimmal000arj&amp;utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-07-29_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Arjun Nimmala<\/a>, is a shortstop presently in High-A ball. Thus, the Blue Jays might not be a good match. Then again, they\u2019ve been a favorite trade partner of Cherington, who served as their vice president of baseball operations from 2016-19.<\/p>\n<p>The top prospects lists of the Tigers, Phillies, and Rangers include several hitters in the top five. However, none are projected to arrive in the majors in 2025. Presumably, they have nothing to offer that fits the description of what Cherington is asking for Bednar. The asking price for Santana is unknown.<\/p>\n<h3>Two Top-Tier Relief Pitchers<\/h3>\n<p>Bednar, 30, was an All-Star in 2022 and 2023. Across those two years, he was 6-7 with 58 saves, a 2.27 ERA, and a 1.109 WHIP. His 39 saves led the National League in 2023. The following year was an off year, as Bednar fell to 3-8 with a 5.77 ERA and 1.422 WHIP. He still managed 23 saves in 2024, but that was out of 30 opportunities. After a rough start and a <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/04\/01\/pirates-option-david-bednar-triple-a\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">trip to Triple-A Indianapolis<\/a>, Bednar returned as his old All-Star self. At the close of Monday\u2019s action, he\u2019s 2-5 with a 2.37 ERA, 17 saves in as many opportunities, a 1.105 WHIP, and a career-best 5.10 strikeout-to-walk ratio.<\/p>\n<p>Santana, 29, doesn\u2019t get the glory Bednar gets, but arguably may be even better. Santana\u2019s 2.2 WAR is second only to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/s\/skenepa01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-07-29_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Paul Skenes<\/a> on the Pirates. He saved five games in six chances while Bednar struggled early in the season. Santana has a sparkling 1.39 ERA, 0.838 WHIP, and 306 ERA+. He could easily step into the role of a closer. The Pirates\u2019 asking price for Santana may not be as steep as what they\u2019d seek for Bednar. It may be easier for the Blue Jays to pry away Santana than it would be to acquire Bednar.<\/p>\n<p>Both Bednar and Santana are under team control through 2026. Thus, neither represents a mere rental. Both are arbitration-eligible next year.<\/p>\n<h3>Reluctance to Trade Bednar?<\/h3>\n<p>Then again, one wonders whether Cherington would trade Bednar at all. Previous reports indicated that owner Bob Nutting stepped in and blocked Bednar from being traded in the past. There have been no reports that Nutting would interfere again, given Bednar&#8217;s approaching arbitration and the dire need for offense. Even so, Cherington sounded a reluctant tone when discussing Bednar with the media on Sunday. Bednar is a public relations person\u2019s dream, a Pittsburgh-area native who excels on the field and works tirelessly in charitable endeavors off the field. \u201cThe sort of trifecta of those things is not lost on any of us,\u201d said Cherington. \u201cHe\u2019s a really valuable pitcher, a really important person. I think we should take that very seriously.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3>The Last Word<\/h3>\n<p>Cherington is right about that. If Bednar is dealt to the Blue Jays or anywhere else, Cherington needs to get that trade right to appease a fan base weary of trades for prospects who never pan out. Ironically, the Pirates just released <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/register\/player.fcgi?id=head--000joh&amp;utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-07-29_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Hudson Head<\/a>, a prospect who was supposedly the key player in the 2020 deal with the San Diego Padres that brought Bednar home to Pittsburgh. Head only made it as far as Double-A.<\/p>\n<p>A few years ago, an elderly woman, fed up with such trades, called into a local sports talk radio show. Whoever had his finger on the bleeper was asleep at the switch. The lady was heard to exclaim, \u201cI\u2019ve had prospects up my ass!\u201d That about sums it up for Pirates fans. If the popular Bednar is traded for an unimpressive package of prospects, there would be so many fans surrounding PNC Park with lit torches that one would think they were filming a remake of <em>Frankenstein<\/em>. If she\u2019s still extant, the old woman may even be leading the charge.<\/p>\n<p>Main Photo Credits: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Frankenstein (7\/8) Movie CLIP - The Torch-Wielding Mob (1931) HD\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/qLvGnro4Cgw?start=44&#038;feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Toronto Blue Jays have discussed relief pitchers David Bednar and Dennis Santana with the Pittsburgh Pirates. This, according to a report by baseball insider Jon Morosi. Per an article by Noah Hiles in the July 29 edition of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Detroit Tigers, Philadelphia Phillies, and Texas Rangers have all expressed interest in [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5010,"featured_media":105032,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[26,1071,7],"tags":[6409,3215,5829,4790,3258,2762,3756,6371],"class_list":["post-105006","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pirates","category-mlb","category-bluejays","tag-arjun-nimmala","tag-ben-cherington","tag-david-bednar","tag-dennis-santana","tag-emmanuel-clase","tag-mitch-keller","tag-owen-caissie","tag-paul-skenes"],"modified_by":"Evan Mazza, Site Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/105006","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5010"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=105006"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/105006\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":105034,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/105006\/revisions\/105034"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/105032"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=105006"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=105006"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=105006"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}