The Pittsburgh Pirates have been one of the biggest surprises in baseball this year. The good times may just be starting.
According to Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pirates have agreed to an extension with outfielder Bryan Reynolds. He will reportedly receive just over $106 million over eight years and includes a team option for 2031. Jon Heyman from the New York Post reported that the deal also includes a six team no-trade list, the first that the Pirates have given since 2006.
Pittsburgh Pirates, Bryan Reynolds have dramatic turnaround
This extension did not seem possible not that long ago. Reynolds and the Pirates had reached an impasse during previous negotiations, leading Reynolds to demand a trade. As the Pirates still had three years of team control left, they had no reason to acquiesce to those demands. Cooler heads prevailed with the deal ultimately getting done.
Reynolds is the type of player that the Pirates needed to lock in. He is clearly the best player in their lineup, establishing himself as a star in the middle of their lineup. He had produced a .283/.368/.492 batting line in his 1260 plate appearances over the previous two seasons, hitting 51 homers and 54 doubles. His offense is helping carry the Pirates to their surprising start this season as well as Reynolds already has five homers and five doubles on the season.
This extension also sends a message. The Pirates are looking to come out of their long rebuild, those trades finally beginning to bear fruit. Ke’Bryan Hayes had already signed a long term deal, the first step to building that sustainable contender at the major league level. Reynolds is now locked in through 2030 at the earliest. The Pirates may finally be ready to make a move to compete.
The Pittsburgh Pirates may finally be ready to contend. Extending Bryan Reynolds sends a strong message that the time has come.
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