The New York Yankees ’ bullpen was crumbling just a few months ago, plagued by inconsistency and overuse. Then came the trade deadline, and with it, the acquisition of Pittsburgh Pirates closer David Bednar—a move that has quietly reshaped the late innings in the Bronx.

A trade deadline steal

When the Yankees pulled off the deal for Bednar, the expectation was simple: get a reliable arm to stabilize a volatile relief corps. What they’ve gotten instead is one of the most dominant closers in baseball.

Bednar has been outstanding since arriving in pinstripes, posting a 2.28 ERA across 23.2 innings while striking out hitters at a blistering rate of 12.55 per nine innings. His ability to strand runners—an 83.3% left-on-base rate—has been critical for a Yankees team that had been struggling t

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