From Kansas City Royals On SI · · 1m 50s
Royals Need David Bednar for Bullpen Rebuild
Royals should target David Bednar as free agent closer to fix weak bullpen.
In brief
Royals should target David Bednar as free agent closer to fix weak bullpen. Royals need David Bednar to improve bullpen after he had 35 saves and 2.47 ERA in 2026. Originally reported by Kansas City Royals On SI.
Free Agent Closer David Bednar
Royals need to look at David Bednar as they rebuild one of the worst bullpens in the league.
Strong 2026 Performance
Bednar had a 2.47 ERA, 35 saves, four blown saves in 69.1 innings of work, and 1.9 fWAR in 2026.
Splitter Pitch Dominance
His splitter had a run value of 14, with hitters hitting .149 and slugging .189 against it.
Primary Splitter Pitch
Bednar threw his splitter 41.2% of the time, the first season it was his primary pitch.
Pitching Profile
He has a 99th percentile chase rate of 38.4%, 89th percentile barrel rate of 4.9%, and 88th percentile whiff rate of 30.8%.
Save Rate and Bullpen Needs
Bednar converted 62 of 69 save attempts for an 89.9% save rate, but Royals had 26 blown saves versus 38 saves.
Market Value Concerns
Bednar commands a strong market, with potential $15 million AAV on next deal after $9 million with Yankees in 2026.
Historical Deal Comparison
Spotrac estimates a 3-year, $47.1 million deal similar to Robert Suarez's Braves contract.
Royals' Recent Deal
Royals gave Carlos Estevez a 2-year pact worth $22.2 million, similar to Bednar's potential deal.
Morejon Comparison
Morejon could get a $100 million deal, making Bednar a more likely target for Royals.
Bullpen Improvement
Bednar is a prime candidate to improve Royals' bullpen after being one of the better closers of the 2020s.
Spending Concern
Royals need to decide if they are willing to spend that much on bullpen improvement.
The big picture
Royals need David Bednar to improve bullpen after he had 35 saves and 2.47 ERA in 2026.
