Perrotto: Do Pirates Even Want to Trade Bryan Reynolds? (+)
More than a week has passed since Bryan Reynolds requested a trade from the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The center fielder remains a Pirate. In talking with various people from around baseball over the past week, it looks like Reynolds may remain with the Pirates for a while.
Teams who talked to general manager Ben Cherington and the Pirates last week at the Winter Meetings in San Diego feel he really doesn’t want to trade Reynolds. In fact, those teams say Cherington seems no more inclined to deal Reynolds than before the Aug. 2 trading deadline.
“Ben was driving a hard bargain then and he’s driving a hard bargain now, and he hasn’t come off that position at all,” an executive from a National League told PittsburghBaseballNow!, granted anonymity because of the nature of the subject.
Despite the trade request, there is no pressure on the Pirates to move Reynolds. He does not become a free agent until after the 2025 season, so they have contractual control over him for three more years.
The Pirates are also convinced Reynolds will not create a fuss if spring training rolls around and he has not been traded. Many in the organization view the trade as a negotiating ploy rather than Reynolds truly wanting to leave.
Though Cherington declined to comment on the situation, there is a feeling the Pittsburgh Pirates would still like to work out a long-term deal with Reynolds.
“I think it played out as we anticipated prior to the request and it getting out,” Cherington said about the trade interest for Reynolds at the Winter Meetings. “We anticipated we come here and his name would come up. I don’t think it changed anything. And certainly, as I said before, hasn’t changed anything in terms of how we value him and how we feel about him.”
The Seattle Mariners have emerged as a strong suitor. Multiple baseball sources believe Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto badly wants to land Bryan Reynolds.
Some other teams that have emerged as potential trade partners since the Winter Meetings are the Baltimore Orioles, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Tampa Bay Rays.
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Teams who have already reportedly talked to the Pirates include the Atlanta Braves, Colorado Rockies, Miami Marlins, New York Yankees, and Toronto Blue Jays.
Some baseball people believe the Pirates might wait until the 2023 trade deadline or next offseason to trade Reynolds – if they don’t sign him. His trade value took a hit in 2022 following his impressive 2021 season.
While he raised his home run total from 24 to 27, his batting average dipped 40 points (.302-.262) while his on-base percentage (.390-.345) and slugging percentage (.522-.461) also fell. Reynolds’ defensive metrics dipped precipitously and he produced 2.9 bWAR after having a 6.0 mark in 2021.
“He’s a good player but the Pirates are valuing him as a great player,” a scout from an American League team said. “I’d like to see him have another year like 2021 before I gave away half my (farm) system.”
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