The Pirates and star outfielder Bryan Reynolds remain engaged in discussion talks, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post (Twitter link) and Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (on Twitter). Both Heyman and Mackey suggest that tomorrow appears to be the deadline for an agreement, with Mackey indicating the 4:10pm EST first pitch of the club’s game in Cincinnati would be the cutoff point.
Whether a deal can come together remains to be seen. Mackey reports that both team and player have budged on their previous dollar figures, closing the gap and offering some optimism. Yet Robert Murray of FanSided cautions that “major hurdles” still have to be jumped, suggesting there remains a relatively significant split for the sides to sort out.
The Reynolds saga has taken a number of twists and turns throughout the offseason. Extension talks stalled at the beginning of the winter. The Pirates had reportedly offered somewhere in the $75-80MM range over six seasons, while his camp had reportedly countered at eight years and $134MM. The switch-hitting outfielder then requested a trade, which the Pirates showed no inclination to grant. While Reynolds never publicly disavowed the trade request, he softened his stance this spring and expressed a willingness to reengage with Pittsburgh on the extension front.
Reynolds is set to make $6.75MM this season after avoiding arbitration on a two-year pact last May. He’ll be eligible for the arbitration process twice more after this season barring an extension. He’s slated to hit free agency after the 2025 campaign, when he’d be entering his age-31 season.
If no deal comes together, Reynolds would almost assuredly find himself back in trade rumors over the summer. Pittsburgh again seems a long shot to compete for a playoff spot this year. If Reynolds is hitting at anything like the .262/.345/.461 level he managed last season, he’d be one of the more coveted trade candidates closer to the deadline. The Bucs will hope to avoid that situation by hammering out a new contract within the next 16 hours.
Just trade him already. You know they aren’t gonna pay him.
They are closer to a extension deal than a trade deal. Most fans don’t find him that valuable. Sounds like their teams agree.
Most people don’t want to be robbed. I know if I walk down the street with 100 dollar bills hanging out of my pockets I’ll probably get robbed. Most GM’s know the ridiculously stupid demands the Pirates are asking are the same thing. It doesn’t hurt to ask, But when everyone says no, Who’s the worse for it? Reynolds, Sad to say. Just because the Pirates called his name.
Let’s not forget, HE signed the contract for 2023 that is paying him $6.75m. The Pirates gm/owner would be total idiots to trade him before the end of the 2023 season, unless they were offered an enormous haul. If he has a monster season like 2021, vs a good season like 2022, the Pirates will still get a haul in trade next winter. Possibly more than teams are willing to give for him now.
At the end of the 2023 season, the Pirates should have enough information to decide whether to extend Reynolds or Cruz long term. 2023 is a pivotal year for the franchise. Several more prospects who the Pirates are hoping will become stars will be arriving in 2023, and several more in 2024. Don’t rush the plan. It’s working.
Reynolds is simply being wasted in a cheap Pirates org. if he signs, then it’s all about the money and never wanting to be one a winning team.
Or it could be about loyalty, a love for the city, setting down roots, trying to create a legacy, etc. You have no idea about a player’s preferences.
myaccount- Loyalty? To Nutting? Jesus I just choked on my Frito’s. Gimme a break. You need to throw out a ” Spoiler Alert” Or something. A little heads up, Something hilarious is coming.
Take it easy. I’m sure you know exactly what he meant, yet you had to turn it into a bash Nutting post. I’m no fan of Nutting but he’s not selling, he’s cheap, and pretty much universally disliked. Ok….so? Why waste any emotion on it?
Always- True. But what do you think it does for team morale when you watch the FO treat your best player like Dog Crap stuck on the bottom of your shoe? And some fans are talking a big improvement? I’m not seeing it. At some point to improve they’ll have to start paying somebody. Or be stuck in reverse.
Who said loyalty to Nutting? When someone mentions a player having loyalty to an organization, I would much sooner think to the his manager, his teammates, and the fans before I think of the owner or GM.
Looks to me like $ is his main priority. He’s a smart guy and knows the pirates are going to greatly improve and be good the rest of his prime.
So in your mind, Davis and Johnson aren’t watching this and planning what the best way to escape this Farce is? Because they’re going to be in the exact same situation soon. You think they’ll stay? They’ll walk as soon as they can. And those ought to be some interesting ARB hearings where they tell them how lousy and worthless they are. Should go a long way.
@Unclemike1526 They play until they are eligible for free agency or quit mlb. Not a great plan.
The fastest way out of Pittsburgh would be to Hire Scott Boras, Nutting would see all his money disappearing and couldn’t get rid of them fast enough.
Money is his main priority? If that were the case, why would he sign a 2-year deal locking in his salary during arbitration, when he could have made more after performance? Sure, the Pirates could improve while he’s there, but from one of the worst teams in MLB to what? Mediocre? He’s going to be 30 y/o when reaching FA. His window for maximizing earning potential is closing and he wants closer to his market rate, which isn’t uncommon.
@RunDMC Because it was a smart financial decision.
Arbitration is a very unpleasant process. Many players don’t like going through it,
Smart b/c it’s guaranteed? But if money was his “main priority” – wouldn’t have not signed in and made more in arbitration based on his totals?
@RunDMC It’s arbitration so you don’t know until the arbiter decides. From what I remember most people thought he did well with the extension. You can ask the writers on this site as they do well with their predictions. If he didn’t get every single possible dollar, most financial experts recommend taking the guaranteed money right now if you can avoid risk and have good investments. Obviously if they offered you 10 million but if you could get 15 or 20 if you wait a year you want to wait.
@RunDMC I personally believe they are going to be winners and soon but Reynolds said something similar last season.
It’s always been about money. Jeez did you just fall off the turnip truck?
No reason to pay him. The team holds all the cards. They have 3 years of control and they aren’t phased by negative PR for not extending him.
Why would you give any money when you don’t have to?
Ask the Indians, Cubs and Braves who are doing it routinely now. It’s the smart play, Not that anyone will ever accuse Nutting of that. I mean even Cleveland reached deep and probably overpaid Gimenez and the Cubs ponied up for Hoerner, So what’s your excuse again. Oh yeah, I don’t have to. Nice
@Macbeth Agree. Did I sign into my burner account and type that and forgot?
I wouldn’t hate on an extension but it’s not going to be team friendly enough to be considered a good move. Trade him and extend someone younger/cheaper/better.
trading him to Tampa for Taj and Isaac
So they have until 4:10 P.M. tomorrow. Good luck to everyone involved.
Yep. If the Pirates call Reynolds agents next week and offer 200 million they are going to say sorry but the deadline has passed. Our client is going to play 3 seasons and hope for the best.
Does 6/$110 get it done?
Reynolds will get $40M total for THIS YEAR plus 2 more. Math for extensions work off that number.
A 4/65 extension means we get the 4th year for $25M
A 6/120 extension means we get the 3 extra years for 80M (26.3M/yr)
6 110 for Pirates would be awful. Reynolds was at 8 134. Pirates 6 80. 8 110 sounds like a great final going back and forth result and I would guess Reynolds would do it. I wouldn’t guess the Pirates would offer that high. I can see a 7 90 from them. I said if they were fine with 6 80 then 8 100 is 10 million a year for age 34 35 and if he rejects they can say we offered him 100 million. Or 100m and 1 cent so they can say they offered him over 100m.
Yeah but they offered 6-72. That’s a joke. Dream on, Dream.
Oh they did now did they? Sorry but I am going to take a well known mlb reporters information over yours Mike.
It says right in the article they offered 6 at 75-80. You know Nutting offered less than that if that’s what they told your” Reporter”. Sure, Either way, It’s still a joke.
Except Reynolds confirmed it.
I just don’t want to be dissapointed once in “extension talks”.
Is that too much to ask?
Yes.
You got McCutchen Marte Hayes. Don’t get greedy.
Had Polanco and Tabata long extension too. Injuries to Polanco and Tabata just was not the player that many thought he would be. They have spent money.. I have been looking from from the perspective that Reynolds was determined to hit the market after 2025 for his year 31 season coming up. Due to his age he and his agent want an extension to include for near what they think he would make at that point. Don’t blame him for that. Not sure If they Bucs could meet such a demand. Will be happy if he is extended but nut upset if they end up trading him.
@GM I wouldn’t hate an extension myself IF the price and years are right but the Pirates are right to hold off.
They could ride these 3 years of control if a great offer comes they can move him ir not they keep him. Once he is a free agent they can offer QO and either get a 4th year at a reasonable price or a draft pick.
I feel the same way. 6 75/80 Is fair. 30 or 40 million more for age 34 35 years isn’t team friendly enough for me. 8 134 is awful.
$75M plus $135M divided by 14 times 7 equals the deal they should make:
7 years/$105M guarantee, $5M of which is a buyout, making it effectively 8 years/$106.75M, WITH a $26M mutual option to potentially make it 9 years/$126M
BOOM. Problem solved.
The Cubs will be trading Ian Happ at the deadline. They are basically the same bat and Reynolds can play CF but that’s the only difference. The Cubs tried to trade Contreras last year and Happ will go this year because the Cubs have a ton of OF talent coming. And they’re not extending him. He will take a lot less to acquire and a lot less drama.
And a lot less team control.
And Happ is a local Pittsburgh guy.
Most here think Pittsburgh has all the cards and should just keep Reynolds but if he’s unhappy and has another down year, his trade value will be even lower. There’s a risk for the Pirates Reynolds get hurt too.
He seems mentally strong to me. But bad performance hurts him much more than the Pirates.
Asking for a trade after a down year with multiple years left on his deal doesn’t sound like a player I’d call mentally strong. I’m not suggesting it won’t hurt Reynolds next contract more then the pirates return. Even so, unhappy players have a habit of underperforming their contracts. I’d rather see him sign a long term deal in Pittsburgh and win a MVP but the risk is always higher on players after a down year.
It wasn’t much of a down year unless you are going by traditional stats like ba ops. Someone said his agency has a history of trade request. Season is starting so we will see.
You got 3 years Brian. It’s sucks that they played your service time. But they’re the Pirates. Can you blame them for wanting an extra year out of you. Way too early to set deadlines for extension talks. How many Years. 10 ? 400 Mil. This is a Fantasy. And in no way is he worth that.
THIS. 49 career AAA at bats. It’s criminal. I thought they were going to keep him in the minors forever!!!!!!!!!!!
I’d say he’s already made up his mind long time ago.
Agree. He wants the financial security an extension provides and will do whatever it takes to get it. Even agreeing to play his entire career in Pittsburgh!
This gets old when you’re an old-timer like me. Just contract MLB into four teams. Mets, Dodgers, Angels and Yankees. Set a salary cap at three billion each and let them fight it out.
Are you tired as well? I have a friend who is a tired old dude.
Four teams and those teams would have to lower payroll. They keep these poorer teams around for a larger consumer base and more money.
I figure at this rate MLB will be down to eight teams sooner than anyone thinks.
Small market owners should have never caved on the CBA. MLB in NYC was never going to look out for them.
Wonder what Tony Clark will think when there are so many fewer jobs?
and yet the only recent accolade of all 4 of those teams combined is 1 mickey mouse ring
I don’t know why, but I have a feeling this gets done today. I think Pirates brass and Reynolds both want it to happen, and aren’t going to let a few million $$$ get in the way.
Get it done, Bob!
Let’s play ball.
Here you go Bucs fans: we’ll do Gleyber Torres ( and 2 more years of control) for Reynolds, straight up. Oh, and we’ll throw in a signed Judge ball that you guys can auction off to help with the bills. Deal?
a 17m AAV over 6 years plus some sort of option seems reasonable from both sides. Add in an extra million or so in bonuses the second half of the contract just for being around league average.
If Playing for a more clear cut contender then it’ll probably take 20m AAV