Yankees should make obvious $10 million David Bednar decision

2 weeks ago 9

The New York Yankees have six relievers who will soon enter free agency.

Included in that group are Michael Fulmer, Tim Hill, Ryan Yarbrough, John Schreiber, Paul Blackburn, and David Bednar.

Bednar, New York's closer for parts of the last two seasons, converted 35 of 39 save opportunities in 2026.

Not only that, he's fit in nicely since last year's trade deadline move with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Yankees often relied on Bednar to record four to five out saves. It goes to show how much trust manager Aaron Boone had in the right-hander.

The Athletic's Chris Kirschner predicts that the Yankees will not let Bednar sign elsewhere. However, they should expect to pay him more than $10 million per year to do so.

"The Yankees have not paid a reliever at least $10 million a season since 2019, when Zack Britton and Aroldis Chapman signed new deals with the club.

"The Yankees have instead opted to find scraphead arms, turn them into excellent pitchers, and then watch them get paid handsomely elsewhere. That should change this offseason," Kirschner wrote.

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According to Kirschner, Bednar is one of two pitchers to throw at least 100 combined regular-season and postseason innings since joining the Yankees at last year's deadline.

His 2.27 ERA ranks second among those relievers.

The Yankees can extend the qualifying offer to Bednar, but he's likely searching for a multi-year deal that pays him comfortably. New York should be the one to give it to him.