MLB trade rumors: Padres engaged in talks with Pirates for Bryan Reynolds
By John Buhler
The San Diego Padres have expressed interest in trading for Pittsburgh Pirates star outfielder Bryan Reynolds.
Just when the Pittsburgh Pirates get a player on the rise to stardom like they have in outfielder Bryan Reynolds, another team like the San Diego Padres expresses interest in trading for him.
MLB‘s big-league Triple-A team is once again in the news regarding the availability of one of its best players. Reynolds is 27 years old and is coming off his first All-Star nod for the Buccos. While the former Vanderbilt star will not be hitting free agency until 2026, that is not stopping a playoff-viable team like the Padres to inquire on his availability. This never seems to end for Pittsburgh.
USA TODAY Sports Bob Nightengale mentions the Padres’ abundance of pitching depth (Chris Paddack, Ryan Weathers, etc.) could be appealing to a team like the Pirates.
The San Diego #Padres have engaged in trade talks this spring with the Pittsburgh #Pirates in an attempt to acquire All-Star outfielder Bryan Reynolds. The Padres have pitching depth, and young pitchers Chris Paddack and Ryan Weathers have been mentioned in discussions.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) March 31, 2022
Of course, Dejan Kovacevic pours a bucket of water on the Pirates making Reynolds available.
This is a repeat from two weeks ago, and I don't want to keep doing this every time something else pops up, but hey: The Pirates aren't trading Bryan Reynolds. Not guessing at this. They're listening because every team listens. Happens literally all the time with most everyone.
— Dejan Kovacevic (@Dejan_Kovacevic) March 31, 2022
MLB trade rumors: Padres inquiring on Pirates OF Bryan Reynolds
This has to be beyond frustrating for Pirates fans. While they had a great deal of on-field success last decade with those teams centered around Andrew McCutchen and Neil Walker, Pittsburgh has long been one of the worst-run franchises in professional sports. It took decades for them to make it back to the postseason after Sid Bream’s knees slid and beat out Barry Bonds’ glass arm.
Because the Pirates are so regularly picking high in MLB Amateur Drafts, they typically end up with promising high school prospects like McCutchen or college stars like Reynolds. They come up through the farm system and play for a few years at the big-league level. Once they are about to hit their primes, Pittsburgh cuts bait and continues forward on its never-ending rebuilding process.
If there was any team in baseball that epitomizes why there needs to be a salary floor, just look at Pittsburgh. This is a proud sports town, but the Pirates make Yinzers long for the fall as soon as the Penguins’ run at Lord Stanley’s Cup ends. It is as if Pirates ownership is begging for Pittsburgh natives like Mark Cuban or Pat McAfee to say enough is enough and buy this moribund franchise.
Reynolds may be a Pirate for now, but there is no way he finishes his MLB career in Pittsburgh.
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