SEATTLE -- When David Bednar got word last Tuesday that he was a late addition to the National League All-Star Game, he made sure to take some of this present from Derek Shelton -- a case of I.C. Light -- and put it in a cooler for Clayton Kershaw. The Pirates were at Dodger Stadium and Kershaw had been placed on the injured list the day before, opening up the spot for Bednar, so it was only fair to share a six pack.
The Pirates' closer and Dodger future Hall of Famer didn't know each other all too well before, but some beers and having a mutual friend and teammate (Rich Hill) helped break the ice. As for the beer, well, Kershaw seemed to appreciate the gesture.
“He said it’s a solid light beer," Bednar was telling me at the All-Star Game media day Monday. "I was like, ‘I think it’s more than that,' but you know what, whatever he says.”
I mean, what did you expect? Only one of the pitchers is unapologetically Pittsburgh.
Settled into his makeshift podium at Media Day, it's striking that even though this is Bednar's second straight All-Stat appearance, this isn't the same guy. For one, he was certainly more popular, and the wait to get him one-on-one for a few minutes took a lot longer than when he was a greenhorn in 2022. He is starting to garner the league's attention.
It also puts him in the discussion as being among the best at his position. Two straight All-Star appearances also means a lot for prestige. Josh Hader, Devin Williams and he are the only current National League relievers to make consecutive All-Star games.
A year ago, Bednar got to pitch the ninth inning out of a moment of charity from Mets closer Edwin Díaz, who requested that Bednar went the final inning instead of him since they were the last two relievers left in the bullpen. Since then, Bednar has taken that next step from an All-Star who made it because every team must send at least one representative to a legit stuff.
I mean, a 1.27 ERA and 42 strikeouts over 35 1/3 with 17 saves in 18 chances? It's been a while since any Pirate reliever could do that.
“He knows exactly who he is. He knows exactly how he gets his outs," Oscar Marin was telling me just before the break. "He knows exactly how to prepare and exactly what he needs to do. This is a solidified guy. He’s a solidified closer and solidified reliever in the big leagues.”
But when Bednar is asked about that, of if he thinks he's joining, or joined, that top echelon of relievers, he brushes it off for talk about the team.
“It just means [I’m] consistently making good pitches and helping the Buccos out," Bednar said, smiling.
It's been said for a few years now, but imagine that Renegade intro video playing whenever Bednar enters the ninth for a Pirates team that's legitimately in a playoff chase. PNC Park will be electric as, jeez, when they play Renegade down the road on Sundays?
For a month this year, it looked like the Pirates were in position to start competing for a playoff spot and get to that big Renegade moment. But as April turned into May, the Pirates stumbled mightily, and a 21-9 start turned into a 41-49 record at the break.
You can't completely write off the Pirates yet because the National League Central is so wide open, but it would take another instantaneous 180 turnaround to get them back into the divisional race.
“We got a taste of it that first month," Bednar said. "Obviously after that, [we’re] not playing how we want to. I think with all these young guys coming up and showing that they’re capable of playing in the big leagues and playing at high level, they’re getting a little taste of it. Now hopefully hit the ground running in the second half. All it takes is just that domino effect of playing some good baseball, and it’s contagious.”
Injuries on the pitching side and an inconsistent offense have been too much to overcome as a team, and that does lead to some frustration after that start.
“It’s definitely frustrating, of course, but more so that we’re not playing to what we’re capable of," Bednar said. "But also on the flip side of it is we know that it’s in the bag and we have that. We are a good team. We just need to get that ball rolling.”
That losing also means there's a good chance the Pirates will look to sell rather than buy before the August 1 deadline. Bednar's name will undoubtedly come up in rumors if that happens, even if it's in the same capacity as we've seen the last few years. The Pirates aren't in a position to ignore a call, but they have no interest in trading him.
“In one ear, out the other," Bednar said. "I know it’s all kinds of smoke."
So why not lock him up and make that official, like what they did with Bryan Reynolds? An extension would certainly stop the calls from other teams. There are always risks with relievers, such as year-to-year volatility in terms of production and injury, but that just lowers the price tag. Bedar's becoming one of the faces of the National League's best bullpens. The Pirates can cement him as one of the faces of the organization, too.
Well, that hasn't happened yet. Per sources, there haven't been any meaningful talks to Bednar being extended and the team locking in their closer. He still has three years of team control remaining, so it's not a do-or-die decision right now.
But don't get it wrong: Bednar wants to play here for a long time. I mean, come on. What is he going to do, start buying his I.C. Light again?
“I love Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh’s the best," Bednar said. "I don’t think I can say it enough what it means to me and how much fun it is going to be when we win in Pittsburgh.”
