I'm Still Not Over the Bryan Reynolds Situation
Rant by Yinzer Crazy Featured Pirates Contributor David Stegon. Follow him on Twitter @DavidStegon
I’m depressed.
Not my usual lay in bed, watch a season of The Office in one sitting kind of depressed, but about the stupid Pirates.
The other day I wrote about the lunacy of the Bryan Reynolds arbitration situation, which came out before reports that the team had not entered into discussions of a long-term deal with the outfielder.
Reynolds has handled the situation like a seasoned pro. I would have likely pulled an Antonio Brown, taking off my jersey and walking out in the middle of a game while giving everyone the DX “suck it” crotch chop, but Reynolds has more class than I do.
As a Pirates fan, I hold no illusion that the team will ever be a serious spender under the current economic landscape. I do expect them to at least make smart investments when the opportunity presents itself, like they did in years past with Andrew McCutchen and Starling Marte.
I see Reynolds as a similar player and person as No. 22. (Andrew was perhaps a level above on the field – he won an MVP after all and was the best player in the National League over a four-year stretch – but that’s not the point.)
Reynolds is among the best players in baseball at a premium position, plays hard every game, handles himself with the utmost professionalism, and has publicly voiced his desire to stay in Pittsburgh. What else do you want?
He’s not Gerrit Cole who had one foot out the door from the beginning. Reynolds is the definition of a cornerstone player. If you are not going to invest in him, who are you going to invest in?
That’s where the depression comes from. Not even so much that the Pirates will haggle with him over $650,000 in arbitration, but that serious extension talks were never broached.
As a Pirates fan standing on the outside, I can only assume that similar talks never happened with Ke’Bryan Hayes or even Oneil Cruz. While I could understand the Pirates perhaps waiting on those two (Hayes is coming off a difficult season due to injury and Cruz is just reaching the majors), it’s not uncommon for teams to extend players in their circumstances. For Reynolds there is no excuse.
Now, I’m not ignorant to the possibility that the extended lockout and condensed free agent signing period perhaps put these talks on hold. I’m also not willing to give the front office the benefit of the doubt on this one. Signing Reynolds into his free agency years should have been a top priority.
I’ve bought into the need for the current rebuild. Ben Cherington has been largely excellent during this process. He’s put the Pirates as an organization in a better place to compete for playoff berths. The core of young players is certainly exciting, which has accelerated thanks to Cruz’s spectacular play this spring.
There is a core being built to compete. At some, the Pirates front office has to make serious efforts to keep these young players.
The team also needs to do something to help the fans. We need a W. We need to feel our devotion is not in vain. I’m never a believer that general managers need to do what the fans want, following the old sayings that managers who listen to the fans will soon sit with them. I get that.
I also – for the life of me – cannot understand why the team would not try to extend Reynolds. This is not about trading or drafting a certain player. It’s about investing in about a safe a player as it gets. It would be one thing of Reynolds says no – he has every right to do so – but not even engaging him in talks at this point is beyond stupid.
Someone pass me the bleach.
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