Bryan Reynolds

Position: Outfield
Bats/Throws: B/R
Age: 27 (January 27, 1995)
2022 Batting
Traditional: 614 PA, .262/.345/.461/.807, 142 H, 27 HR, 63 RBI, 56 BB, 141 K
Advanced: 125 wRC+, 23.0 K%, 9.1 BB%, .306 BABIP, .329 xwOBA, 2.9fWAR, 2.9 bWAR

Rundown

Reynolds is a 27-year-old outfielder with one All-Star season and three years of team control remaining on his contract.

Reynolds was a second round pick in the 2016 MLB Amateur Draft of the San Francisco Giants. He was traded two years later from the Giants org to the Pittsburgh Pirates along with reliever Kyle Crick and $500,000 of international bonus pool money for Andrew McCutchen and $2.5 million of salary.

Reynolds made his major league debut in 2019, appearing in 134 games during his rookie season. He slashed an impressive .314/.377/.503 with 16 home runs and 68 runs batted in. He finished fourth in rookie of the year voting behind Pete Alonso, Mike Soroka, and Fernando Tatis Jr.

He wouldn’t have nearly the same success during the shortened 2020 season. Playing in 55 games his slash line plummeted to .189/.275/.357.

The Pirates weren’t going to move on from their center fielder but they needed to see an improvement from the two-month sample. Reynolds responded by reaching career highs in home runs, RBIs, runs scored, hits, triples, OBP, slugging, and OPS. He was named to the All-Star team in 2021 and finished 11th in MVP voting.

Reynolds was still an above-average player in 2022 but didn’t hit the same highs he did in 2021. His power continued to increase but the run creating chances didn’t leaving the Pirates best player on an island in the core of their lineup. As a result, Reynolds saw his slash line decrease at least 40 points across the board

Now, Reynolds wants out. He’s requested a trade from the Pirates who have finished last in three of the four years he’s been with them and the other year in fourth place.

Reynolds has seen teammates like Starling Marte, Joe Musgrove, Adam Frazier, and Jacob Stallings traded elsewhere for a chance to shine and now it’s his chance.

The Pirates plan on Reynolds being an impactful member of their team for next season and beyond but that’s just basic team-speak. If the price is right, expect the reeling, cost-cutting Pirates to move on from their best player.

Package

The Mets won’t get Reynolds for cheap. Due to age, contract, and ability Reynolds is one of the best players who is technically available to trade for. The Mets can trade for Reynolds and refuse to pay him an extension or major contract increase until 2025 or just let him walk entirely after the season when he’s a UFA in 2026.

In order to match value, the Mets are giving up some big names.

Playing around with the Baseball Trade Values simulator, to match Reynolds’ value you’d have to trade Brett Baty and Kevin Parada.

The Mets retain their top prospect in Francisco Alvarez, keep developing their pitching prospects, and get a full-time centerfielder who could replace a certain free agent for much cheaper.

Another option would be to trade Parada, Alex Ramirez, and Mark Vientos. The Mets would part ways with their No.3, No. 4, and No. 7 prospect in this deal as opposed to dealing two of their top three.

Ramirez at 19 years old vaulted up Mets prospect boards this last season in A-ball and he moved into the MLB Pipeline Top 100. He can still add weight to his frame and turn into an all-around outfielder (speed and defense are not his weakness). If he displays more power expect another jump up the rankings. His value is still based on potential rather than in-game skills.

My Thoughts

I’d do a trade for Reynolds if the Mets can’t bring back Brandon Nimmo. Nimmo has shown his value to the Mets and deserves a payday from them. Over the next few seasons, they should be equal unless Reynolds takes another leap and becomes consistent to that 2021 level he was at.

I’d lean toward the second proposed deal of Parada, Ramirez, and Vientos to get it done. but the Pirates would prefer Baty and Parada.