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Blue Jays search for relief pitching could start and end in Pittsburgh

With the trade deadline just a few days away and bullpen relief continuing to be of importance, the Toronto Blue Jays could turn to the Pittsburgh Pirates for these relievers.
ByJose Alfonso Taboada|
St. Louis Cardinals v Pittsburgh Pirates
St. Louis Cardinals v Pittsburgh Pirates | Joe Sargent/GettyImages

Time is ticking for the Toronto Blue Jays and the rest of the MLB as the trade deadline draws closer. It's no secret that the Blue Jays need to strengthen their pitching staff, with most of the attention drawn to the bullpen. Toronto was recently linked with relief options like Baltimore Orioles' Gregory Soto and Seranthony Dominguez. However, a new option emerged for the Blue Jays in the form of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

According to MLB Network's Jon Morosi, the Blue Jays and Pirates have been in discussion for relief pitching, a deal which could include the likes of David Bedar and Dennis Santana.

Bednar, a two-time All-Star in his fifth year with the Pirates, has been the team's closer over the last few years and has been lights out. In 2023, he led the National League with 39 saves and was also in the top 10 for the NL since 2022. This season, Bednar sits at a 2-5 record with a 2.37 ERA with 17 saves.

His defensive ratings on Baseball Savant also show the power and value Bednar has. His strikeout percentage sits in the 95th percentile at 33.1% (top five in all of MLB), and his fastball velocity sits in the 88th percentile, averaging 97.1 MPH.

Santana, another reliable arm for the Pirates, has also shown his value that would attract any teams in the league that need relief pitching. He's 3-2 on the season with a 1.37 ER9 in 45 appearances with 36 strikeouts.

As for his value, most of his rankings on Baseball Savant also sit high among the rest of the league. His chase percentage is in the 99th percentile, walk percentage at 85th, and xERA at 91st. While his fastball isn't as effective (the velocity coming in at the 58th percentile and averaging 94.7 MPH), it's his breaking balls that prove to be elite, with a slider that's only seeing a batting average of .131. His run value on breaking balls is good for the 97th percentile.

Adding relief pitchers, especially of this caliber, could help alleviate the usage of Yariel Rodriguez and even Jeff Hoffman, especially with Yimi Garcia being out for an undisclosed amount of time. Since the All-Star Break, the Blue Jays in relief has an ERA of 5.64, which is 26th in all of MLB. With another two months to go before the playoffs, it's clear relief help is needed.