The Detroit Tigers have one of the best records in the American League, and they could make some final additions to gear up for a deep postseason run.
The trade deadline is a week away, and the Tigers could benefit from adding a closer. Will Vest has a 2.23 ERA and 16 saves on the year, but adding another closer could give the Tigers a great duo at the backend of their bullpen. The Pittsburgh Pirates are set up to be sellers and David Bednar could be an option.
Bednar is a two-time All-Star and led the National League in saves in 2023. Last season, he had a 5.77 ERA, and his struggles continued into this season. However, after a stint in Triple-A, he has come back looking like himself again. Since returning to the big leagues, he has a 1.59 ERA and 14 saves.
After giving up four runs in his first three games and recording a total of three outs, he has found his form again. ESPN’s David Schoenfield predicted the Tigers would trade for him.
“The Tigers know they’re going to the postseason; they want to make their team better for October,” wrote Schoenfield. “A team that isn’t guaranteed a playoff spot is risking future value for a playoff run that might not exist. At the minimum, the Tigers will be adding to a bullpen that has been hemorrhaging runs of late. Will Vest has remained solid, but Tommy Kahnle had been their other late-game high-leverage reliever and he just had a recent run of nine runs allowed over three outings.”
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There is no such thing as too many good relievers in October. Bednar is also more than just a rental. He has one more season of club control and could slot in as the closer going into next year as well.
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