The Yankees got the fairly straightforward part out of the way Monday, when they extended the qualifying offer to David Bednar. 

Now comes the more difficult part: waiting on the closer’s decision — which may well lead to having to strike a deal with him on the open market, and go where the Yankees have not gone for a reliever since 2019. 

Bednar has until Nov. 17 to decide whether to accept the one-year, $23.15 million offer to remain in pinstripes and become the highest-paid reliever in the game by average annual value. But he could likely at least double that figure over the course of a multiyear deal if he turns down the qualifying offer and officially becomes a free agent. 

The question is how far the Yankees would be willing to go to fend off other suitors and keep Bednar as the anchor of their bullpen, which needs real help regardless of whether he returns.