The Chicago Cubs are one of the better teams in baseball right now, but they still need to find some upgrades across the roster if they want the best chance to win the National League pennant and the World Series.
The Cubs need to upgrade their bullpen as much as any spot on their roster, and it’s likely they will turn to the trade market to do so.
FanSided’s Christopher Kline recently suggested the Cubs could look to trade for Pittsburgh Pirates reliever David Bednar in a rare intra-divisional deal between two National League Central rivals.
“After a cataclysmic 2024 season, David Bednar has returned to form for the Pittsburgh Pirates,” Kline wrote. “He’s not the perennial All-Star candidate he was a few years ago, but Bednar can pick up timely outs and miss a ton of bats with his blistering fastball and devastating curveball.
“The Pirates have been resistant to Bednar trade overtures in the past, but with no path to contention and pennies to pinch for Bob Nutting, perhaps this is the season in which Ben Cherington and the front office relent. Sending Bednar to a division rival probably isn’t on Pittsburgh’s wishlist, but the Cubs offer a deep reservoir of quality prospects to dangle in trade talks.”
Bednar was once one of the top closers in the game of baseball, but he struggled early in the year. After getting off to a slow start, he’s found his groove again, which makes him a very intriguing trade chip.
The Cubs could part ways with a few top 30 prospects in order to land the veteran righty. Adding him to a bullpen with Ryan Pressly would be a dream come true, especially if the two can continue to trend in the right direction.
Bednar would be the perfect combination of performance and affordability for the Cubs to swing a trade.
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