The red-hot Pittsburgh Pirates finally locked in star outfielder Bryan Reynolds on a long-term contract extension on Tuesday.
The deal is an historic one for the franchise for a host of reasons.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the agreement is “essentially the same” as the one that was being negotiated earlier this year. A 2021 All-Star, Reynolds has dodged constant trade rumors in recent seasons as the two sides have been working nonstop trying to come to terms on a long-term deal.
The Vanderbilt product signed a two-year, $13.5 million deal in April 2022 to avoid arbitration. Reynolds led Pittsburgh in home runs (27), RBI (62), hits (142) and runs scored (74) among a host of other categories last season.
Reynolds was selected by the San Francisco Giants in the second round of the 2016 MLB June Amateur Draft before being traded to the Pirates with relief pitcher Kyle Crick and international bonus slot money in exchange for former NL MVP and five-time All-Star Andrew McCutchen and cash in January 2018. “Cutch” rejoined Pittsburgh in January on a one-year contract, 10 years after winning the 2013 NL MVP award.
The 28-year-old Reynolds and 36-year-old McCutchen have helped co-lead the Buccos to a stunning 16-7 start, good for first in the National League. They’ve won seven in a row and Reynolds has a team-high 18 RBI and 25 hits, while sharing the team lead in home runs (five) and runs scored (13).
McCutchen is having a solid start to the year as well with four home runs, three steals and a .275/.381/.507 slash line.
The Pirates will look to earn their first eight-game winning streak since 2018 when they begin a three-game home series against the Los Angeles Dodgers (12-11) on Tuesday.
