The Pittsburgh Pirates were reportedly close to making a trade with the New York Yankees this weekend, but the Yankees were unable to meet Ben Cherington's demands for one of the top relievers on the market in David Bednar.
The market for bullpen help got even thinner on Thursday when the San Diego Padres acquired closer Mason Miller from the Athletics, but it may have actually opened up an opportunity for the Yankees to acquire a different shutdown closer – from the Padres, no less.
The Yankees have showed interest in Padres pitchers like Dylan Cease during the 2025 trade deadline, though those talks have stalled due to Padres’ high asking price and Cease’s impending free agency.