The Pittsburgh Pirates and outfielder Bryan Reynolds have reportedly reached an agreement on financial terms, although there is a major sticking point blocking a contract extension.
The New York Post’s Jon Heyman reported Thursday that “a major conceptual issue has prevented a deal.
“Reynolds has moved a lot to try to get a deal done but there remains a disagreement on this key point.”
The 28-year-old Reynolds, an All-Star in 2021, remains under team control through 2025, but requested a trade in the offseason. After team officials hinted that’s not in plans, the two sides began negotiating a contract extension. According to MLB Trade Rumors, the Pirates had initially offered somewhere in the range of six years and $80 million, while Reynolds reportedly sought eight years and $134 million.
So the fact the two sides have reportedly reached an agreement on dollars is significant. However, Reynolds had set opening day as his contract negotiating deadline, so it remains to be seen if he’ll make an exception.
Reynolds hit 27 home runs last season with a 126 OPS+ and is one of the centerpieces of the Pirates’ rebuilding efforts.
MLB fans spent time guessing about the “major conceptual issue” holding up an extension for Reynolds. Given the Pirates history of low payrolls and losing records, some of the guesses were not nice.
Major disagreement about whether the cat inside the box is dead or alive, or both dead and alive
— Zach S (@heyitsmezach) March 30, 2023
Is the conceptual issue him continuing to play for the Pirates? Because I could see that concept being a problem.
— Vader (@mbvader) March 30, 2023
Conceptual issue being the Pirates will not be able to field a decent team around him, thus leaving Reynolds in Pirate loser purgatory for 7 years
— Sean Segers (@seansegers) March 30, 2023
About Arthur Weinstein
Arthur spends his free time traveling around the U.S. to sporting events, state and national parks, and in search of great restaurants off the beaten path.