MLB Rumors: Pirates Trying Again To Extend Star Player

Here we go again. After an offseason of insufficient contract offers followed by trade demands, the Pittsburgh Pirates are once again trying to come up with an extension to keep star outfielder Bryan Reynolds around for the long haul.  

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. Bucs want to keep him though. FA after 2025.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 24, 2023

MLB Insider Jon Heyman is reporting that the Bucs are giving it another shot, after their wintertime offer of six-years, $76M fell far short of Reynolds' expectations. 

The 2021 All-Star requested a trade out of Pittsburgh after that first attempt, but the Pirates have been adamant they want to keep him. The relationship between the sides has apparently improved over the past couple of months, and just recently Reynolds admitted that he'd like to stay, but only under the right circumstances. 

"I think I’ve been pretty open the past few years about that my No. 1 choice would be to sign an extension in Pittsburgh, but I want that to be a fair deal for both sides," said Reynolds.

According to Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Reynolds is looking for something in the range of eight years, $134M. 

There are plenty of big-name, deep-pocketed teams that could use an outfielder of Reynolds' caliber (and could pay him that kind of money), like the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees to name just two, but it would take a massive haul to land him.

Photo: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports