8:04am: Reynolds spoke with reporters this morning about contract talks with the Pirates, and mentioned the crew has made no new presents so far (per Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic). At this stage, Reynolds has not set a deadline for a possible deal to get achieved.
7:59am: The way forward for Bryan Reynolds has dominated Pirates-related headlines ever since his commerce request early on within the low season. Hypothesis seems set to bleed into the spring now, and it probably gained’t cease till the Pirates both hammer out an extension with their star outfielder or commerce him.
In accordance with Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Publish-Gazette, the Pirates’ greatest provide to Reynolds was a six-year, $80MM deal, whereas the participant was searching for eight years and $134MM — each of which might have represented a franchise file contract. Whereas a $54MM hole is important, proprietor Bob Nutting mentioned in an interview with Mackey that the crew is working arduous to attempt to bridge that for the time being.
“We’d like to see Bryan as a long-term a part of the crew. The piece that I used to be most involved about was his stage of frustration within the sense that he felt disrespected by the crew. If there’s a manner we are able to bridge the hole, we’re working arduous to try this. We’re persevering with this week to work arduous to do it. Bryan’s vital. We need to do what’s proper for him, for his household and for the crew. We completely have respect for Bryan. We need to maintain strains of communication open,” Nutting mentioned.
The commerce request got here on the heels of that deadlock in contract negotiations, however Reynolds has nonetheless maintained his desire is to remain in Pittsburgh if the correct deal will be discovered. On that entrance, nevertheless, it does seem like make-or-break time. One other robust season of manufacturing would probably push an extension subsequent winter effectively out of Pittsburgh’s worth vary, and whereas the Pirates might nonetheless probably get a powerful bundle in return for Reynolds subsequent winter, his dwindling years of management and growing arbitration wage will make it trickier to justify the bounty they may obtain this season.
Reynolds is usually a free agent following the 2025 season, which might not seem to line up completely with the Pirates’ projected window of rivalry, which might be simply opening round 2024-25. As such, an extension which retains him in Pittsburgh past 2025 or a commerce for youthful gamers with extra years of management makes loads of sense. Reynolds, 28, has established himself as one of many sport’s prime outfielders in recent times. The switch-hitter has compiled 12.5 fWAR, averaging a wonderful .281/.361/.481 line whereas belting 74 dwelling runs over the previous 4 seasons.
In any case, there appears to be little likelihood of the Pirates following the Padres anytime quickly, and turning their small market payroll into another resembling that of the sport’s heavy hitters.
“It’s a mannequin that we have now perception in and have had success with. As we assorted away from that mannequin, which arguably we did in ’17, ’18 and ’19, it doesn’t work very effectively. I feel we’re proper on the brink of seeing success. I feel what we’re persevering with to do and what we have now achieved is attempt to present self-discipline and be sure that we’re investing in the correct locations. I proceed to have a look at baseball as one a part of a wider bucket,” Nutting mentioned.
The Bucs’ payroll has ranked thirtieth, thirtieth and twenty eighth previously three seasons, failing to clear the $60MM threshold. The Pirates had been at the same stage of their rebuild in 2011-12, and had been operating out bottom-three payrolls in these seasons. As their window of rivalry opened, payroll greater than doubled from 2012-15 (in keeping with Cot’s Baseball Contracts) because the Pirates loved a trio of playoff seasons.
Nutting’s transient however wide-ranging interview with Mackey additionally touched on the brand new collective bargaining settlement which was agreed upon a yr in the past between the league and the MLB Gamers Affiliation.
“There’s no query the CBA contained a number of issues that weren’t good for the Pirates and only a few issues that had been wonderful for us. You even have to recollect there was no baseball happening. We had an actual danger of shedding the season. I felt a big sense of urgency to get on the sphere. May have had a protest vote. That’s probably not who I’m. I’m undecided it might be good for the crew, and I don’t suppose it might be good for baseball,” Nutting mentioned.
“It’s the one greatest situation dealing with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Aggressive disparity, income disparity and payroll disparity are all actual challenges. I feel it’s nice [Commissioner Rob Manfred] is publicly speaking about it. We merely can’t be right here within the subsequent cycle. We’ve bought to see basic change within the financial construction of the sport. I consider that we’re positioned to do it — not this yr or subsequent yr however over the longer-term cycle.”
