The Dodgers would love to trade for Pirates center-fielder Bryan Reynolds, but Jon Heyman reports that Pittsburgh’s asking price remains too high.
The Dodgers are among several teams interested in trading for All-Star center-fielder Bryan Reynolds, who is fed up with losing in Pittsburgh and has requested a trade. Los Angeles has a hole in center with the departure of former MVP Cody Bellinger, and while they have internal options in James Outman, Trayce Thompson, Chris Taylor, Jason Heyward, and Steven Duggar, they love the idea of adding a bona fide star like Reynolds.
According to Jon Heyman in the New York Post, though, a Reynolds trade — to the Dodgers or anyone else — seems unlikely at this point.
One interested team exec summed up the Pirates requests in two words: “unrealistic asks.” Another team’s exec says there’s nothing happening now but they hold hope for spring.
It’s not surprising the ask is high since the Pirates don’t seem especially interested in trading him as they hope to contend within the three years he has left. Plus, it would be difficult publicly. Perhaps, too, the Pirates don’t want to accede to trade demands, which they may fear will trigger a trend.
Early on in the process, it was reported the Pirates were looking for a deal comparable to what the Nationals got for Juan Soto, and obviously no team is going to come close to matching that. It’s interesting that Pittsburgh wants to treat Reynolds like Soto when it comes to trading him but not when it comes to paying him.
While sources say the Pirates offered over $75 million for six years with no team options, Reynolds’ camp originally mentioned the $168 million, eight-year deal Matt Olson received as a comp (though their request was lower than that). The Braves did sign Sean Murphy for $73 million over six years (plus a team option), and Murphy is in the same class as Olson. (The Reynolds camp would counter that that deal is low.)
L.A. isn’t desperate for a center-fielder specifically, because they have several players who can play multiple outfield positions including center. They’d like to add an outfielder, but it doesn’t have to be Reynolds. So as long as Pittsburgh’s asks remain “unrealistic,” the Dodgers will likely sit back and wait for the price to come down.
