According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, New York landed Pirates closer David Bednar by packaging together three virtually unheralded prospects: catcher Rafael Flores, catcher Edgleen Perez, and center fielder Brian Sanchez. None of them cracked the Yankees’ upper-tier rankings. One wasn’t even drafted.

Perez signed with the Yankees out of Venezuela and has played all of 2025 at Single-A, slashing .209/.368/.236 for an OPS of .604 in 83 games at Tampa, before now playing with Bradenton. He ranks 15th in the Pirates farm system according to MLB Pipeline.

The New York Yankees made a decisive move by acquiring All-Star closer David Bednar from the Pittsburgh Pirates. The addition addresses a clear weakness in the Yankees' bullpen, which has struggled to shut down games consistently this season.