Are the Pittsburgh Pirates about to take one step out of mediocrity and actually ensure a key player in their future stays for the long haul?
What world is this?
Well, we are not quite there yet, but MLB insider Jon Heyman reported on Friday that the team is eager to extend outfielder Bryan Reynolds before the start of the season.
Sources: Pirates are trying to extend CF Bryan Reynolds, before the season if possible. The Pirates previously had offered about $76M for 6 years but were so far apart Reynolds requested a trade. Bucks want to keep him though. FA after 2025.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 24, 2023
By now, we know that the six-year, $76 million offer probably got laughed at.
Similarly-talented players got well over $100 million in the offseason, and Reynolds is young and proven.
If the Pirates want to even get Reynolds’ attention, they should start their offering with three numbers and not two.
People on Twitter, of course, have little to no confidence in the Pirates’ ability to extend a decent offer.
6/77 offer incoming
— Hoodie Maybin (@HoodieMaybin) March 24, 2023
Let me translate this into something more believable.
Sources: Pirates are trying to give the appearance they want to extend CF Bryan Reynolds, before the season if possible. The Pirates previously had offered about $76M for 6 years but were so far apart Reynolds requested a trade.
— Pat O’Hern (@POHern) March 24, 2023
It does appear that the last thing on the Pirates’ minds is a trade.
They know that they don’t have to flip him right now, but time is ticking when it comes to maximizing a hypothetical return.
The best bet for them, for now and the future, is making sure Reynolds stays.
The Pirates could be good in two or three years: they have Reynolds, Oneil Cruz, Quinn Priester, Mitch Keller, Roansy Contreras, plus Ke’Bryan Hayes appears to be progressing nicely.
Reynolds is their best and most consistent player.
Trading him could mean setting the franchise back at least a few years…again.
It’s hard for us to see a future in which Reynolds actually agrees to an extension offered by the Pirates, an organization that has traded at least a dozen of prominent players about to cash in over the last five or six seasons.
I assess the Pirates chances of resigning Reynolds at 1%.
But then again, I am an optimist.
—Matt Williams (@MattWi77iams) March 24, 2023
But crazier things have happened.
NEXT:
MLB Insider Reveals Major Bryan Reynolds Update
