NEW YORK — The New York Yankees finally found an upgrade for their bullpen on Thursday, finalizing a deal to acquire Pittsburgh Pirates closer David Bednar prior to the trade deadline, a source confirmed to the New York Daily News.

The trade is pending medical review. Catcher Rafael Flores, the Yankees’ eighth-best prospect on MLB.com, will headline the package going back to Pittsburgh. Edgleen Perez, another catcher, and outfielder Brian Sanchez are also being traded to the Pirates, per The Athletic’s Stephen J. Nesbitt.

Bednar, 30, has returned to form this season after recording a 5.77 ERA last year. The righty has 17 saves to go along with a 2.37 ERA, and his 33.1 strikeout percentage ranks in the 95th percentile.

An All-Star in 2022 and 2023, Bednar recorded a 2.25 ERA over 179 2/3 innings from 2021-2023. His best season came in 2023, when he led the National League with 39 saves while posting a 2.00 ERA.

A Pittsburgh native who went to Lafayette College in Easton, Pa., Bednar has spent the past five seasons with the Pirates. He’s naturally grown comfortable pitching in his own backyard, but a source said Bednar has some close connections in the New York area.

“He will have a very, very large support crew of college teammates and friends, so he’ll be great,” the source, requesting anonymity, said.

Bednar, a 35th-round pick back in 2016, adds power stuff to the Yankees’ pitching staff, as his 97.1-mph average fastball velocity ranks in the 89th percentile. Also equipped with a curve and a splitter, he takes a 6.5 BB%, 30.1 Chase% and a 28.3 Whiff percentage to the Bronx.

Another perk of landing Bednar is that he comes with team control, as he won’t reach free agency until after the 2026 season. Bednar is earning $5.9 million this year.

That extra year of control is important for the Yankees, as Devin Williams and Luke Weaver are scheduled for free agency this winter. Both have been the team’s closer, but Bednar could take over that job, likely at a discounted price, if needed in 2026.

Perhaps most importantly, Bednar brings a functioning arm to a battered bullpen that entered Thursday’s game with a 4.89 ERA since June 1, the fifth-worst mark in the majors.

With Mark Leiter Jr. (fractured leg), Fernando Cruz (oblique), Ryan Yarbrough (oblique) and Jake Cousins (season-ending Tommy John surgery) all on the injured list, the Yankees haven’t had many relievers they can rely on outside of Williams and Tim Hill lately. Jonathan Loáisiga has been inconsistent at best, while Ian Hamilton hasn’t earned trust in high-leverage situations. Even Weaver has a 6.60 ERA over 15 innings since coming off the IL with a hamstring strain.

“Bodies, in particular, would be helpful,” pitching coach Matt Blake recently told the Daily News when asked about the Yankees’ bullpen needs.

Bednar gives them one, and a talented one at that. More relief upgrades would be welcomed; Blake specifically said acquiring another lefty to pair with the overused Hill would be nice.

If an external southpaw can’t be obtained, Yarbrough could eventually help fill that gap after shining in the Yankees’ rotation earlier this season. The swingman just recently threw his first bullpen session since getting hurt.

Leiter, meanwhile, threw live batting practice on Thursday and is expected to pitch in a rehab game over the weekend. If all goes well, he could rejoin the Yankees in Texas next week.

Finally, Cruz is scheduled to throw his first bullpen session on Friday. The Yankees have said it’s possible the righty returns this month, but the team planned on taking things slow with him after he suffered a high-grade strain.

On Thursday morning, Boone said that the Yankees are hoping the impending returns of those three and starter Luis Gil “are big deals for us.”

Gil could also impact the relief corps, as his return will presumably push Marcus Stroman – who struggled against the Rays on Thursday – Cam Schlittler or Will Warren to the bullpen.

In Flores, the Pirates are getting an undrafted JUCO product who quickly climbed the Yankees’ minor league ladder thanks to his powerful right-handed swing. The 24-year-old was recently promoted to Triple-A and is hitting .279/.351/.475 with 16 home runs and 60 RBI over 97 total games this season.

“I feel like my whole career, I’ve had that chip on my shoulder, and I use that to my advantage,” Flores said in spring training. “I use it to motivate myself. I use it to fuel my game.

“It sounds cliché, starting from the bottom, but I technically did.”

The Yankees, who have earned a reputation for developing catchers, were impressed with Flores’ receiving skills in spring training, but he has also played some first base.

Perez is only 19. Considered the Yankees’ 14th-best prospect, the right-handed hitter was batting .209 with a .604 OPS, zero homers and 26 RBI at Single-A.

Sanchez, 21, hit .281 with an .811 OPS, four home runs and 24 steals at Single-A this season, his second in the Yankees’ system. The lefty-swinging outfielder was acquired in the 2023 trade that sent Jake Bauers to the Milwaukee Brewers and was not among the Yankees’ top 30 prospects.

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