Pirates Show Hypocrisy With Bryan Reynolds Demands

For months, it has been known that Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds could be had via trade.

Of course, that doesn’t mean they are going to give him away – like they did with Shane Baz, Tyler Glasnow, Austin Meadows, Gerrit Cole, and many others – but one would think that they would be open to discussing a reasonable trade for a player they want to extend, but have been unable to.

On Friday, MLB insider Jon Heyman reported that the club offered a six-year, $75 million contract to Reynolds, an All-Star outfielder with youth on his side and recent top-notch performance.

Then, they go out in trade negotiations and ask for blue-chip prospects and MLB-ready impact players.

Something doesn’t make sense.

“The Pirates want some insane trade package for Brian Reynolds while also presenting him an insulting six years for $75 million offer. They are not a serious franchise in any shape or form. How does that make any damn sense?” writer/filmmaker Randy Wilkins tweeted.

The Pirates want some insane trade package for Brian Reynolds while also presenting him an insulting six years for $75 million offer. They are not a serious franchise in any shape or form. How does that make any damn sense?

— Randy Wilkins (@pamsson) January 6, 2023

After several months of speculation that Reynolds could be swapped in the not-so-distant future, no deal has come close to what the Pirates actually want.

They are treating Reynolds like an All-Star when it’s time to listen to offers from other teams, but they are treating him like a talented rookie when it comes to negotiating an extension.

What gives?

Reynolds is talented, but is definitely not a rookie.

He doesn’t have pre-arbitration years left, so the Pirates want to buy out three arbitration years and three free agent seasons for $12.5 million per year.

That’s insanely low.