It was one of those August mornings when you least expect something big to happen. Then, Pittsburgh fans started scrolling through their feeds and found something that hit them way harder than any pitch. This one image just popped up, a player in black and gold walking away from the action under those stadium lights, giving a little wave with two fingers. It was weirdly silent, no score, no crowd noise, this one moment that felt super heavy. The caption was short and sweet. It packed a punch. It was like a time capsule holding five seasons’ worth of memories, moments on the field, and the love of a city that had claimed him as its own.
That player was David Bednar, now headed to the Big Apple as a $5.9 million trade acquisition for the Yankees. Only days after packing his bags, the 29-year-old reliever opened up to Pittsburgh one last time, posting a heartfelt farewell that read less like a press release and more like a conversation with old friends. “Honored to have worn the black and gold in the city I love,” his statement began, before moving through a series of thank-yous that reached far beyond the clubhouse. Teammates, coaches, grounds crew, ushers, PNC Park staff, Bednar named them all, painting a picture of a man who knew his success was built on more than just what happened on the mound.
For fans, this wasn’t just another goodbye post. Bednar’s roots run in the Pittsburgh area. He’s a hometown guy who wore his city pride on his sleeve. He had the tough, never-give-up attitude that Pirates fans love. When he talked, you could tell he was the deal. In his post, he threw around slang like “The Burgh” and “Love Yinz,” and it didn’t sound like some fancy media speech, but the voice of someone who lived the black-and-gold life, not just played in it.
— David Bednar (@david_bednar) August 7, 2025
And while trades are part of the game, this one hit differently. The Yankees get a proven late-inning arm, but Pittsburgh loses more than a closer; they lose a hometown anchor, a presence who could shift a clubhouse’s mood with a grin or a quick joke in the dugout. It’s no wonder one reply under his post read simply: Come back next year, renegade.
Bednar’s final months in Pittsburgh told a story of resilience and dominance. After shaking off early struggles, he locked in like clockwork: a sparkling 1.70 ERA over 39 appearances, a staggering 24-game stretch spanning nearly two months without giving up a single earned run, and a flawless 17-for-17 save record. His efforts were crowned with the National League Relief Pitcher of the Month award for July, a testament to his elite closing prowess.
In return, the Pirates embraced the future by securing three promising prospects from the Yankees: Rafael Flores and Edgleen Perez, two versatile catcher/first-basemen ready to grow into foundational roles, and Brian Sanchez, an outfielder with tools that could blossom quickly. Unfortunately, this promising haul from the Yankees is already clouded with setbacks for the Pirates. As Sanchez has been placed on the 60-day injured list, effectively ending his season before it truly began.
As the Pirates adjust to this unexpected blow to their new roster plans, the spotlight shifts to Bednar, who will be wearing pinstripes now, his gaze set on high-pressure innings in a very different baseball atmosphere. But if his message to Pittsburgh made one thing clear, it’s that no matter how many games he saves in New York, The Burgh will always be home, and the bond between a player and his city doesn’t fade with a change of uniform.
From shock to support: How Pittsburgh took the Yankees’ trade news
The moment the Yankees trade became official, Pittsburgh’s timeline lit up like the Clemente Bridge at sunset. It wasn’t just baseball chatter; it was personal. Fans weren’t dissecting ERAs or contract details; they were sharing memories, posting old photos, and tagging Bednar with heartfelt send-offs. The comments felt less like a transaction thread and more like a neighborhood gathering, everyone swapping stories about the local kid who made it big and was now bound for the Bronx.
Dude, Im a big fan and appreciated you in Pittsburgh. I can’t stand the yanks, but I wish you personal success and not team success. We didn’t get shit back for you and that was disappointing.
— John Gilger (@OCLion) August 8, 2025
The message perfectly captures the conflicted emotions swirling around Bednar’s departure. On one hand, there’s genuine respect and appreciation for what he meant to Pittsburgh. “Dude, I’m a big fan and appreciated you in Pittsburgh.” On the other hand, there’s open disdain for the Yankees, a rivalry that runs deep enough to make wishing “personal success but not team success” feel like the only acceptable compromise. The sting is compounded by frustration over the trade return, with the blunt admission that “we didn’t get shit back for you and that was disappointing,” voicing a sentiment many Pirates fans share: losing a hometown star is bad enough, but doing it without a haul in return makes it feel like salt in the wound.
“They made a bad move. Hopefully, you will consider a Return of the Renegade. ” To some fans, the Pirates’ decision to trade Bednar wasn’t just questionable, it was a flat-out misstep. In their eyes, moving a hometown All-Star and clubhouse leader stripped the team of both talent and identity. They likely feel Pittsburgh could have held onto Bednar as a long-term anchor for the bullpen, or at least secured a stronger return that matched his value. Instead, they see the deal as selling short on a player who not only delivered on the mound but also embodied the grit and connection the fanbase craves. The “Return of the Renegade” plea turns that frustration into hope, a wish that Bednar’s story in Pittsburgh isn’t over.
“Sorry, the lousiest excuse of an owner couldn’t make your experience better here. Pittsburgh’s best model gone just like that. What a sad excuse of a team we have.” You can almost hear the exasperation in this fan’s words. They’re not tiptoeing around blame; the owner takes the full hit for letting a hometown All-Star slip away. To them, Bednar wasn’t just a shutdown closer; he was the face of what the Pirates should aspire to be, the “best model” for the team’s identity both on and off the field. Losing him “just like that” feels like ripping the soul out of the clubhouse. And when they call the Pirates “a sad excuse of a team,” it’s not empty trash talk, it’s the voice of a fan who’s watched this cycle play out too many times and is tired of seeing hope shipped out for less than it’s worth.
MLB, Baseball Herren, USA Pittsburgh Pirates at San Francisco Giants Jul 28, 2025 San Francisco, California, USA Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher David Bednar 51 delivers a pitch against the San Francisco Giants during the ninth inning at Oracle Park. San Francisco Oracle Park California USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xD.xRossxCameronx 20250728_ca3_ams_0283
“Will be rooting for you to get a ring. Hope to see yinz back in 2027.” This tweet manages to pack loyalty, ambition, and a timeline for a reunion into one short message. Wishing Bednar “a ring” shows they genuinely want him to find championship glory, even if it comes in Yankees pinstripes, a big concession for a Pittsburgh loyalist. But the second line flips the focus back home, setting 2027 as the hopeful date for his return. It reads like both a blessing and a countdown, the kind of note that says, go win big, but don’t forget where you belong.
“Our fans are tough, but if you give us your energy and want to be here, we’ll show you love forever.” From a Yankees fan, this isn’t just a welcome; it’s a contract written in plain language. They’re reminding Bednar that New York doesn’t cheer for the name on the back until they’re convinced. The Bronx crowd watches everything: how you handle pressure, how you fight through a bad outing, and how you recover. But the flip side is powerful, bring that same power that he carried in Pittsburgh, show them the city matters to you, and the fanbase will rally behind you for life.
For now, two cities will be watching, one cheering his next chapter, the other waiting for the day he comes home.
The post Yankees $5.9M Trade Acquisition Sends Emotional Message to Former Team, Fans Teary-Eyed appeared first on EssentiallySports.