All-Star outfielder Bryan Reynolds is staying with the Pittsburgh Pirates despite a trade request he made in late 2022. The Pirates just announced that Reynolds signed an eight-year extension that ties him to the organization at least through the 2030 MLB season.
Reynolds’ extension kicks in this year and is reportedly worth $106.75 million. This marks the first $100+ million contract Pirates handed out to a player in the history of the franchise. The Chicago White Sox, the Kansas City Royals, and the Oakland Athletics now remain the only MLB teams that haven’t had a player on a nine-figure deal.
As part of his extension, Reynolds received a limited no-trade clause that allowed him to block a trade to six teams of his choosing each year. He doesn’t have an opt-out, while the Pirates received a club option for 2031.
Reynolds initially requested a trade from the Pirates back in December after the two sides failed to reach an agreement on a new deal. However, Pittsburgh was unwilling to lose their arguably best player and instead tried to make an extension happen. The talks reportedly picked up steam in recent days, and each party made compromises on their previous stances to push the deal over the finishing line.
Reynolds, who was an All-Star and NL triples leader in 2021, is off to a great start to the season. He is batting .294 with five homers and 18 RBIs while helping the Pirates to a surprising 16-8 record and first place in NL Central.
