Report: Phillies eyeing Pirates relievers Dennis Santana and David Bednar ahead of MLB Trade Deadline

It’s officially reliever season, and the Phillies are in the thick of it. According to multiple reports, Philadelphia has expressed serious interest in Pirates right-handers Dennis Santana and David Bednar, with talks ongoing as the trade deadline approaches.

Per Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporter Noah Hiles, Santana has been on the Phillies’ radar “for quite some time,” and Bednar’s recent resurgence has now put both arms firmly in play. There’s even buzz the Phillies could pursue a package deal to land both.

Given that the Phillies’ bullpen ranks 24th in MLB in ERA (4.41), it’s no surprise that Dave Dombrowski is trying to upgrade.

Jordan Romano has settled in a bit after a brutal start, but between that, Jose Alvarado’s 80-game PED suspension (and postseason ineligibility), and the lack of a second late-inning anchor, Philly’s pen is nowhere near championship-caliber.

Enter Dennis Santana and David Bednar

The #Phillies have expressed interest in #Pirates RHPs David Bednar and Dennis Santana, per @_NoahHiles

Hiles notes that Santana seems to be PHI’s primary interest, but PHI’s interest in Bednar “has received a notable uptick as of late.” pic.twitter.com/mbC3u7OBzl

— MLB Deadline News (@MLBDeadlineNews) July 5, 2025

Dennis Santana: The Breakout Bargain

Once a journeyman waiver claim, Santana has turned into one of the sharpest bullpen finds of the season.

Since arriving in Pittsburgh, he’s posted a 1.99 ERA across 81.1 IP, with an elite 5.8% walk rate, strong strikeout numbers, and legit hard-contact suppression. His 1.46 ERA this year might be BABIP-aided (.206), but the peripherals (3.52 SIERA) still support the success.

Santana is earning just $1.4M this year and remains under team control through 2026, making him one of the best value arms on the market.

For a Phillies team navigating the highest tier of the luxury tax—with a 110% surcharge on any adds—that price tag is significant.

David Bednar: Back in All-Star Form

As for Bednar, the 2024 struggles are in the rearview. Since being optioned and recalled in April, he’s delivered a 1.88 ERA and 34.7% strikeout rate in 28.2 innings, looking every bit like the dominant

Bednar was an All-Star in 2022 and 2023. He’s outperforming his 2.73 ERA with a 2.27 SIERA, despite a high .343 BABIP—meaning he’s been even better than the numbers suggest.

Bednar, a Pittsburgh native, is under control through 2026 and owed the rest of a $5.9M salary this season, making him the more expensive of the two options, but clearly worth it if the Phillies want a lights-out 8th/9th inning arm to pair with Romano or replace him outright.

Phillies need help in the pen above everything else

The Phillies don’t need a lineup fix. They don’t need starters. The blueprint is simple: fix the bullpen and gear up for October. The roster is too good—Wheeler, Suárez, Turner, Schwarber, Harper, Bohm—to let another season unravel in the 7th and 8th innings.

Dennis Santana or David Bednar alone would be a win. Both? That’s how you signal you’re all in.

Stay tuned. Dombrowski’s cooking.

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