Pirates

Pittsburgh Pirates’ all-star outfielder Bryan Reynolds has come to training camp with an open mind. Spring training is about hope. Everything, in theory, is equal. No MLB team is in first place or at the bottom of the standings.

At Pirate City, the Pirates’ southern home, when the gates swung open earlier this month in Bradenton, optimism ran rampant. Some of the excitement from Pirates’ fans, and no doubt from those filling out the club’s roster, is contingent on management coming to contractual terms with one of their most productive players.

Frustrated where contract talks were leading, this past December the club’s center fielder requested a trade. With no movement made in coming to terms both sides could agree on, Pirates’ Chairman of the Board Bob Nutting and general manager Ben Cherington apparently are playing a wait-and-see game on what to ultimately do with their star player.

For Reynolds' part, he’s going about his preparation as if it’s business as usual. Arriving in camp a week earlier than required, on February 15, Reynolds was among the first to enter the Pirates’ clubhouse. The 2021 National League all-star selection arrived by 8:00 a.m., beating many of the pitchers and catchers on their mandatory reporting day.

"Nothing has changed,“ Reynolds said while standing in front of his locker. "I wanted to get in here early and get to work. I don’t want to make this (trade request) an issue.“

Reynolds admits that he didn’t make the trade request because of a dislike for the home city that he has played in for the past four seasons or the fans that have been supportive. He isn’t unhappy with his teammates.

"I like living in Pittsburgh for a half year each season,“ Reynolds, who last April signed a two-year deal with the Pirates that reportedly pays him north of $13.5 million, explained.

It’s the business part of baseball that stands in the way of Reynolds possibly not being in the club’s opening-day lineup on March 30 in Cincinnati.

Reports have Reynolds and the Pirates roughly $50 million or more apart in extension talks. Among all 30 MLB club payrolls, only the Baltimore Orioles and Oakland Athletics lag behind the Pirates’ $59 million. The likelihood of Reynolds collecting the dollars he is asking for falls in that slim to none category.

Reynolds made it clear on the Pirates’ opening day of training camp that he is open to a contract extension. However, the deal must be "fair“ for both sides. The star center fielder is set to become a free agent following the 2025 season.

"This (trade request) didn’t affect my preparation for the upcoming season. I’m locked in 100% for opening day,“ Reynolds explained to the half dozen reporters gathered around his locker.

Chatter among reporters concerning Reynolds’ contract number that would keep him a Pirate for many seasons to come could be traced to the New York Mets. This past December the Mets came to terms with their free agent center fielder Brandon Nimmo, who inked an eight-year contract for $162 million. If this is indeed a starting number for Reynolds, who in his four seasons with the Pirates is fast approaching his 500th game, the next step in negotiations must come from management.

There have been reports that the Pirates are in the six-year range at $80 million in salary for Reynolds.

Reynolds, who came over to Pittsburgh on January 15, 2018, from the San Francisco Giants in a trade for Andrew McCutchen, tells of being "cool“ with the idea of playing alongside the former MVP. McCutchen signed with the Pirates last month for a one-year contract worth a reported $5 million.

"We have come full circle,“ explains Reynolds of being a teammate to the popular Pirate who he was traded for.

As Reynolds’ meet and greet with members of the media concluded, when asked if he has any favorite locales to frequent in the Bradenton area during spring training, two businesses were offered. Reynolds claims Culvers for burgers and Mr. Tequila on Cortez Road for Mexican cuisine as his favorite haunts.