Pirates OF Bryan Reynolds opens up on his trade request: 'I want a fair deal for both sides'

BRADENTON, Fla. — On the opening day of spring training, Bryan Reynolds stood in front of his locker and firm in his stance said he wants to be traded from the Pittsburgh Pirates, unless they are willing to offer a long-term contract that represents a “fair deal for both sides.”

The one-time All-Star outfielder said his offseason trade request stemmed from a considerable gap in contract talks that showed a “difference of opinion … of what we viewed my worth as a player.”

“I think I’ve been pretty open these last few years that my No. 1 would be to sign an extension in Pittsburgh,” Reynolds said Wednesday morning at Pirate City in Bradenton, Fla. “I want that to be a fair deal for both sides. Not one side or the other. Not a crazy-player, not a crazy-team deal. That’s always been my No. 1.”

Pirates OF Bryan Reynolds publicly addresses his contract talks/trade request for the first time on the opening day of spring training. pic.twitter.com/horUSUIN2I

— Kevin Gorman (@KevinGormanPGH) February 15, 2023

Regardless of whether the Pirates grant his wishes, Reynolds vowed he won’t be a distraction. Reynolds had a conversation at the entrance of the practice fields with Pirates manager Derek Shelton before the first workout, and Shelton is confident the breakdown in contract talks won’t be a problem.

“My expectation is the same: He’s going to go out and be a really good baseball player,” Shelton said. “There is a business side to this game. You have to understand that. Our expectation, my expectation and everything that I think Bryan has said to me personally and publicly is he’s going to be the same guy and go about his business. That’s kind of what we expect. Don’t think there’s going to be anything different.”

Pirates manager Derek Shelton, on his conversations with and expectations for Bryan Reynolds. pic.twitter.com/a7EuGLqCCN

— Kevin Gorman (@KevinGormanPGH) February 15, 2023

The Pirates made Reynolds a long-term offer late last season. His representatives made a counteroffer, and the Pirates responded with an offer that MLB insider Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported would “make Reynolds the highest-paid Pirate in team history” in terms of total salary, surpassing the eight-year, $70 million deal signed by third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes in April.

Heyman reported Reynolds turned down a five-year, $76 million offer. Reynolds asked to be traded before the general manager meetings in November, news of which leaked before the Winter Meetings in December. Reynolds didn’t dispute any of the reports on the contract talks, where there was a $50 million difference between the parties.

“Pretty much everything that’s been out there is fairly accurate,” Reynolds said. “Nothing’s changed since that came out.”

Pirates general manager Ben Cherington has been adamant that the club has no designs on acquiescing to Reynolds’ trade request, and other teams have complained that the asking price on returns was “ridiculous.”

“He’s someone anyone would want on their team,” Cherington said on the MLB Network’s Hot Stove show in December. “We’re focused on helping the Pirates getting to a better spot and moving towards a winning team in Pittsburgh.”

Reynolds, 28, avoided arbitration last April by signing a two-year, $13.5 million contract through the 2023 season. With Reynolds under contract at $6.75 million this season and two years of arbitration remaining in 2024-25, the Pirates can choose to exercise their club control.

“That’s in their court,” Reynolds said. “We couldn’t force them to do anything. We just, I was frustrated. I think we have a right to have those emotions, too, and that’s what we did, but obviously, can’t force them to do anything.

“I mean, if I could’ve drawn it up, it wouldn’t happen. … But that’s not how it drew up this offseason. It didn’t affect me with how I worked or any of my preparation or anything like that. It was just kind of background noise that was going on.”

Bryan Reynolds says he open to staying with the Pirates on a “fair deal for both sides” and vows mot to be a distraction this spring. pic.twitter.com/IXICoSRcXa

— Kevin Gorman (@KevinGormanPGH) February 15, 2023

Reynolds wouldn’t say whether the eight-year, $162 million contract center fielder Brandon Nimmo signed with the New York Mets this offseason has affected his view of his market value, but Reynolds and the Pirates are believed to be about $50 million apart in contract talks.

Even so, Reynolds said he spent three days a week working with Pirates hitting coach Andy Haines, both before and after the trade request became public, and arrived early for spring training. His teammates never expected anything less from Reynolds, who has a reputation for his diligence in training and preparation.

“Personally, I never questioned whether he’d be here,” said Pirates catcher Jason Delay, who played at Vanderbilt with Reynolds. “I’m not surprised to see him here. He’s a hard worker. I fully expected him to be here. It never crossed my mind that he wouldn’t show up.”

Despite having timing issues early and dealing with an oblique injury, Reynolds slashed .262/.345/.461 with 19 doubles, four triples and a career-best 27 home runs with 62 RBIs last season to lead the Pirates in most major offensive categories. He was a Silver Slugger finalist for the second consecutive season.

Reynolds was selected an All-Star for the first time in 2021, when he slashed .302/.390/.522 with 35 doubles, tied for the MLB lead with eight triples, 24 home runs and a career-best 90 RBIs and was a finalist for the NL Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards.

It was a strong bounce-back year from the covid-shortened 2020 season, when Reynolds batted .189 with seven homers and 19 RBIs in 55 games, and a return to his rookie form. In 2019, after only 13 games at Triple-A Indianapolis, Reynolds made his major-league debut and led the Pirates with a .314 batting average and had 37 doubles, four triples, 16 homers and 68 RBIs to finish fourth in NL Rookie of the Year voting.

Pirates 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes on his reaction to Bryan Reynolds requesting a trade this off-season. pic.twitter.com/4WfnqYsAVx

— Kevin Gorman (@KevinGormanPGH) February 15, 2023

“Obviously, we want him to be here because he’s the heart of our lineup and what he’s able to bring on the defensive side, baserunning and all of those things. He only makes our team better,” said Hayes, a teammate since their days at Double-A Altoona. “I’m sure everyone here wants him on our team.”

Reynolds reiterated his previous stance that he would prefer to play for the Pirates, who acquired him from the San Francisco Giants in the Andrew McCutchen trade in January 2018. That trade has come full circle now that the Pirates have signed McCutchen to a one-year, $5 million deal and they could share the same outfield.

“Everything I’ve said is true: I always said I like playing here. I like the city. I like the fans. I like the stadium. We like living in Pittsburgh for half the year. That’s all true,” Reynolds said. “I’m happy I’ve got teammates I like, all that. That was the business side of it, if you will. Everything I’ve said is true. My No. 1’s true. Kinda sucked that it came to that because that’s how I feel. It’s kind of frustrating.”