The New York Yankees have extended a $23.15 million qualifying offer to closer David Bednar, signaling their intention to retain one of their most important bullpen pieces. The offer was made ahead of Monday's deadline, marking the club's first such move since a previous qualifying offer led to player dissatisfaction.
Bednar has until November 17 to decide whether to accept the one-year offer. If he declines, the Yankees can still pursue a contract with him as a free agent, but would receive draft pick compensation if he signs with another team.
This decision contrasts with the Yankees' handling of pending free agent Jazz Chisholm Jr., to whom they did not extend a qualifying offer. Last year, the team offered a qualifying offer to Trent Grisham, who accepted it, but then experienced a decline in performance after a career year in 2025. Chisholm's inconsistent performance in the past season made a qualifying offer a potentially risky proposition for the Yankees, given the possibility of him accepting it and the team's inability to consistently leverage his talent.
Bednar, acquired from the Pirates, has proven to be a valuable and durable asset in his year and a half with the Yankees. Despite a brief demotion to Triple-A early in the 2025 season, the 32-year-old right-hander has maintained a strong performance record. In 86 games as a Yankee, Bednar posted a 2.39 ERA with 45 saves and 111 strikeouts over 94 innings. He also performed well in the postseason, allowing only one run in eight playoff appearances and has not been placed on the injured list for arm issues during his major league career.
The Yankees have historically shied away from large, long-term contracts for relievers, preferring to find cost-effective bullpen arms. However, Bednar's potential departure is particularly concerning as the team faces the significant task of rebuilding almost its entire bullpen. Aside from left-handed setup man Brent Headrick, who was heavily relied upon, and Fernando Cruz, who is recovering from a UCL injury, the Yankees are losing other key contributors. Paul Blackburn, a right-handed setup man, is now a free agent and expected to command a salary significantly higher than the $2.1 million he earned in 2026.
Should Bednar decline the qualifying offer, he is expected to be a sought-after free agent, potentially becoming the top reliever available. Other notable bullpen arms include Adrian Morejon of the Padres and Raisel Iglesias of the Braves. Last year, 13 players received qualifying offers, with a record four accepting, including Grisham.