Pirates GM Ben Cherington calls demoting David Bednar a 'difficult' decision, conversation

Informing two-time All-Star closer David Bednar he was being optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis was what Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington called “a very difficult decision, a very difficult conversation and not one he liked in the moment.”

Cherington addressed the move to demote Bednar, a Mars alum who is a two-time Roberto Clemente Award nominee for his community service, during his weekly radio show Sunday afternoon on 93.7 FM.

“He’s very prideful, wants to be in the big leagues, believes that’s where he belongs,” Cherington said. “The notion of sending him back to Triple-A was very difficult. We got there because we just felt like, in service to David, both to himself and the team, we’re not trying to squint our way to being part of a bullpen. We believe he can be a high-leverage reliever at the back of the bullpen, at the end of the game.”

After tying for the National League lead with 39 saves and leading the majors with a 92.9 save percentage in 2023, Bednar posted a 5.77 ERA, converted 23 of 30 save opportunities and lost his closer job late last season. The 30-year-old right-hander struggled in spring training and allowed three earned runs on four hits with two walks and one strikeout in one inning over three appearances before being optioned Tuesday.

“It wasn’t happening,” said Cherington, who added that the Pirates saw some positive signals that hadn’t shown up in his performance. “Rather than keep squinting, let’s tackle this head-on with David and in full support of David …. That’s clearly the outcome we want. We want to bring him back and know what he’s capable of being.”

Cherington said he hopes Bednar’s time at Indianapolis is short but long enough to allow him to return to his All-Star form of 2022-23.

“I’d bet on him,” Cherington said.

Compounding the Pirates’ bullpen problems is that not only are they without a closer but also lost setup man Colin Holderman, who was placed on the 15-day injured list Sunday with a right knee sprain.

Cherington said Holderman felt something on the second-to-last pitch of his outing Saturday against the New York Yankees, when he threw a sweeper to Jasson Dominguez, and was noticeably limping when he walked off the field after the fifth inning in the 10-4 loss.

“With a reliever, it’s hard to nurse the roster along for a few days,” Cherington said. “We need all hands on deck, so we made that call.”

The Pirates recalled right-handed reliever Chase Shugart from Triple-A Indianapolis. Shugart was acquired from the Boston Red Sox in January for righty Matt McShane. Shugart, 28, posted a 4.15 ERA in 8 2/3 innings over six appearances for the Red Sox last season.

“We saw last year a real improvement in stuff,” Cherington said, noting that Shugart picked up two or three pitches and his fastball touched 96 mph. “His stuff started to pop last year.”

Cherington also addressed the decision to designate catcher Jason Delay for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for right-handed starter Thomas Harrington. That resulted in Delay, who started 107 games over the past three seasons but didn’t make the Opening Day roster, being traded to the Atlanta Braves for cash considerations.

“He had just fallen behind three other catchers on our 40-man roster. It’s hard to carry four catchers on the 40-man roster,” Cherington said. “Just felt like he was behind that group. We needed a roster spot and that’s the one we chose.”

Cherington also indicated that Harrington, who allowed six runs on seven hits and four walks with two strikeouts in four innings in a 7-0 loss to Tampa Bay in his major league debut, could potentially be available out of the bullpen.

That depends on whether the Pirates use a five- or six-man rotation, an option Cherington called a “constant conversation” between baseball operations and the pitching group and said would be strategic.

Another strategic move for manager Derek Shelton is finding a way to get both Bryan Reynolds and Andrew McCutchen in the lineup. Reynolds is relegated to serving as designated hitter while dealing with a right arm injury, so McCutchen has made two starts in right field.

“A little bit of a tricky roster dynamic for Shelty to manage right now,” Cherington said. “It comes down to good communication. What that requires is some compromise. … Shelty will pick his spots to do that.”

Cherington expressed confidence that after being charged with three errors in the first eight games, Oneil Cruz would improve in his transition from shortstop to center field.

Although Cherington called the ball that went off Cruz’s glove in right-center in Miami “frustrating,” he noted that the team’s metrics showed a 5% probability on the play.

“He’s getting to a ball that not many guys do. Arm strength is there, so it’s just a matter of continued improvement,” Cherington said, citing Cruz’s track record of getting better against left-handed pitching and stealing bases.

“Believe that’s going to happen because every time he’s been given a real challenge, he’s responded to it.”