As the Los Angeles Dodgers continue their search for a center fielder, one potential option emerged when Bryan Reynolds requested a trade from the Pittsburgh Pirates due to contract extension negotiations seemingly reaching an impasse.
The 27-year-old remains under team control through the 2025 season by way of salary arbitration, and the Pirates have shown little-to-no interest in making a trade thus far.
The team reportedly has set a high asking price in return for Reynolds, with one rival executive going as far as calling it “unrealistic.” Top pitching prospect Bobby Miller is believed to be a target of Pittsburgh in any potential trade with L.A.
According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Pirates are believed to be seeking a Juan Soto-type haul for their All-Star outfielder:
One rival executive complained the Pirates are looking for a “Juan Soto trade” for Bryan Reynolds, who seeks a way out of Pittsburgh.
The San Diego Padres acquired Soto and Josh Bell from the Washington Nationals at the 2022 MLB trade deadline in exchange for a package that included top prospects Robert Hassell, Jarlin Susana and James Wood, as well as CJ Abrams, MacKenzie Gore and Luke Voit.
Soto is the more accomplished player and three years younger than Reynolds, but the latter has an extra year of team control. However, the trade market isn’t exactly flush with players of Reynolds’ caliber, so it makes sense why the Pirates are seeking a massive return.
The consensus around MLB is that Pittsburgh will enter the 2023 season with Reynolds as their starting center fielder and seriously consider moving him at the trade deadline if a contract extension can’t be worked out.
Bryan Reynolds included in The Shredder top-10 left fielder rankings for 2023
Reynolds placed No. 6 on MLB Network’s The Shredder list of top-10 left fielders heading into the 2023 season after another solid year with the Pirates.
Reynolds hit a career-high 27 home runs in 2022 along with posting a solid .806 on-base plus slugging percentage, but his best year arguably came in 2021 when he had an impressive .302 batting average and .912 OPS.
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