Still No Agreement Between Pirates And Bryan Reynolds Due To “Major Conceptual Issue”

March 31: The conceptual subject is certainly an opt-out clause, studies Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic. He provides that the 2 sides have come to an settlement round $106MM on the assure, roughly the center level between the earlier asking costs, however that Reynolds and his reps need an opt-out that the Pirates seem unwilling to present up to now.

March 30: The Pirates and outfielder Bryan Reynolds have been discussing a contract extension in latest days, with at this time’s opener reportedly thought of a cutoff level. The season has now begun and it seems that there’s nonetheless no deal in place, per Jon Heyman of The New York Publish, who provides that the 2 sides have an settlement on {dollars} however a “main conceptual subject” is getting in the best way.

Up to now, it’s unclear what this conceptual subject is. Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Publish-Gazette confirms Heyman’s report (Twitter hyperlinks) and provides that the hangup shouldn’t be “years/{dollars} or measurement of the factor.” If it’s not the size or the assure, it could possibly be one thing like an opt-out or a no-trade clause, although that’s merely hypothesis.

No matter what the difficulty is, the truth that the 2 sides obtained nearer on the cash is encouraging. Discussions earlier this winter reportedly had the Pirates providing one thing within the $75-80MM vary over six years whereas Reynolds’ camp was aiming for $134MM over eight years. The 2 sides have been to date aside that Reynolds requested a commerce. The Pirates appeared typically unmoved by that request and seemingly had no need to drop their sky-high asking worth. It’s a considerably optimistic signal that the talks have been fruitful sufficient {that a} deal appears shut, although it hasn’t but gotten over the road.

It has been reported in latest days that the Opening Day recreation is one thing of a deadline for negotiations. The Pirates have now began their first recreation of the season and it appears a deal nonetheless isn’t in place. Nonetheless, Mackey studies that each side nonetheless view it as being doable.

Whether or not or not a deal comes collectively within the coming days or perhaps weeks stays to be seen. If the talks finally finish with out a new deal, there’s nothing stopping additional talks from beginning down the highway, although gamers usually like to make use of Opening Day as a degree to focus much less on contractual issues and extra on their on-field duties. Reynolds shall be making $6.75MM this 12 months as a part of a two-year deal to keep away from arbitration he signed going into 2022. The Pirates can nonetheless retain his companies through arbitration for 2024 and 2025, with Reynolds at present slated totally free company after that. He’s coming into this season with a profession batting line of .281/.361/.481 for a wRC+ of 126.