Don’t ask Pirates’ Bryan Reynolds any questions about the recent New York Yankees rumors. He doesn’t want to talk about it.
The Bryan Reynolds-New York Yankees rumors are so hot right now that one Yankees beat writer recently staked out the Pittsburgh Pirates’ clubhouse to ask Reynolds some questions.
It would have been easy enough for the outfielder to give succinct answers or respond, “No comment,” to the Yankees rumors, but Reynolds made up a lame excuse and avoided the writer altogether as he waited around the clubhouse.
So he really, really doesn’t want to talk about it. He doesn’t even want to talk about not talking about it.
Reynolds has been rumored to head to the Bronx for several months now after he requested a trade out of Pittsburgh in early December. This past year, Reynolds reportedly turned down a contract extension that would have made him the highest-paid player in team history (it’s the Pirates, so that’s not saying much) and is looking for a more lucrative deal.
From the Pirates’ perspective, the 28-year-old Reynolds is coming off two productive campaigns and is under control for the next three years, so Pittsburgh seems intent on retaining Reynolds unless the team receives an offer it can’t refuse.
Pittsburgh outfielder Bryan Reynolds stays mum on swirling Yankees rumors
Such an offer might look like the Yankees giving up No. 1 prospect Anthony Volpe to jumpstart the Pirates’ rebuilding era, but there’s a very low chance of that player swap coming to fruition.
New York could desperately use an outfield depth piece like Reynolds, having already re-signed Aaron Judge and added Carlos Rodon to the pitching rotation. Last season, Reynolds hit .262 with 27 homers and 62 RBI and appears to have found his groove after four years in Pittsburgh.
In all likelihood, a Reynolds trade to the Yankees isn’t happening, and that could be why Reynolds is shunning the topic altogether — no point in talking about the impossible. The dogged beat writer who tried to corner Reynolds for a few snippets on the rumors had to settle with half a conversation with a Pirates’ PR official, who matter-of-factly said Reynolds “doesn’t want to talk about the situation.”
On the possibility of signing a long-term deal with the Pirates, Reynolds said back in February:
"“I (told the Pirates) that I would sign a fair deal. I don’t want either side of it to come out and be like, ‘Man, they kind of got us.’ I want it to be that both sides got some skin in it.”"
As the two sides continue working toward a long-term deal in 2023, the Reynolds trade rumors will rage on.