Pirates Closer? Derek Shelton Addresses David Bednar’s Unclear Role

Derek Bednar has 84 saves for the Pittsburgh Pirates over the last four seasons.

But that’s still not enough for Pirates manager Derek Shelton to come right out and say Bednar is Pittsburgh’s closer this spring. At least not yet.

It seems like Bednar’s struggles last season, in which he posted his worst ERA (5.77) since joining the Pirates and blew seven saves, is giving Shelton some pause.

“I don’t think we’re ready to say that (he’s the closer), but I think we feel very good with the fact that we have a guy who was a two-time All-Star closer,” Shelton said on “Foul Territory” this week. “He had a blip. Last year, coming out of spring training — had an abbreviated spring training — started off, struggled, and then was really good. I think 18 saves at one point and then struggled a little bit with his command. I think as we get through spring training, we’ll have a better idea where the command’s at. But fully expect him to bounce back. You don’t sit in that spot and do the ninth inning for two years at the level that he did without being really talented.”

Bednar was solid in June and July after a rough start, but then faltered again in August last season. That month, the right-hander allowed 13 runs and 17 hits in 10 2/3 innings. But the 30-year looked more like himself over the final month of the campaign.

That along with a strong spring should be enough to make Bednar the closer again. If the Pirates don’t go with Bednar in the ninth-inning role, they could possibly turn to Dennis Santana to close out games.

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