Pittsburgh Pirates GM Insists Bryan Reynolds "Will Be A Big Part Of The Team"

Pittsburgh Pirates star outfielder Bryan Reynolds requested a trade this offseason after the team fell far short in meeting his expectations in extension talks. Trade rumors have been swirling for months now. But Pirates GM Ben Cherington, appearing on MLB Network Radio this morning, intimated that Reynolds isn't going anywhere.

After a long off-season of rumors swirling around the @Pirates and star outfielder Bryan Reynolds, GM Ben Cherington gives an update to fans on #TheFrontOffice.#Pirates | @Jim_Duquette | @JimBowdenGM pic.twitter.com/uGnBNJVKsD
— MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) February 5, 2023

"He's one of those guys that, you sleep well at night (knowing he's on your team). He's just super-reliable and really good," said Cherington.

"Given where we are, coming off of last year, we believe we're ready to start making a move, improving and becoming competitive. And he's such an important part of that...

"We believe he's a Pirate... he's going to be a big part of the team. We'll see what unfolds from there... He plays the game the right way... He's a really important player for us."

The Pirates are rumored to have offered Reynolds a contract with a total value of about $75M, which would be the largest contract ever handed out by the cost-conscious franchise. But the 2021 All-Star believes he's worth much more than that.

Reynolds posted a .912 OPS in 2021, with 24 HR, 90 RBIs, a .302 average and a .390 on-base percentage. His OPS+ was 145, making him 45% above the average hitter. He followed that up in 2022 with a career-high 27 HR, and a still very-much-above-average OPS+ of 126.

Photo: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports