Despite reported 'agreement on dollars,' Pirates, Bryan Reynolds fail to extend contract

CINCINNATI — The deadline for a deal passed without the Pittsburgh Pirates and Bryan Reynolds finalizing a contract extension, which the star outfielder wanted to complete by first pitch on Opening Day.

MLB insider Jon Heyman of the New York Post tweeted Thursday afternoon that “while there’s agreement on dollars” between Reynolds and Pirates, “a major conceptual issue has prevented a deal.”

Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic reported Friday that the sides were in agreement to a backloaded, eight-year contract worth $106.75 million, but the sticking point is a proposed clause that would allow Reynolds to opt out after the fourth year in 2026.

It would mark a meeting in the middle by both sides, as Reynolds was seeking an eight-year deal at $134 million and requested a trade in November after turning down the Pirates’ reported six-year, $80 million offer. The Pirates’ latest offer would have been the richest deal in franchise history, surpassing the eight-year, $70 million contract third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes signed last April.

Pirates chairman Bob Nutting told the Tribune-Review last month that “it’s definitely inside the realm of possibility” that the club could sign a player to a nine-figure contract for the first time in the near future.

“I can see that happening,” Nutting said. “I think it’s going to be important.”

Reynolds, 28, is making $6.75 million this season, the second year of a two-year, $13.5 million deal he signed last April, and remains under team control with two more years of arbitration. He can become a free agent in 2025, so the proposed contract would buy out one year of free agency before allowing him to explore the market if he opts out.

Reynolds refused to talk about the contract negotiations after the Pirates beat the Reds, 5-4, at Great American Ball Park.

“I’m not talking about any of that,” Reynolds said.

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Pirates general manager Ben Cherington — who said of Reynolds in February that “our focus is to get better, and he’s a big part of that” — also declined to discuss the contract negotiations after the game.

The Pirates have said they don’t want to trade Reynolds, a 2021 All-Star who led the club in most offensive statistics last season. Reynolds told reporters Feb. 15 at Pirate City in Bradenton, Fla., that he was open to continue negotiations during spring training.

“I think I’ve been pretty open these last few years that my No. 1 would be to sign an extension in Pittsburgh,” Reynolds said. “I want that to be a fair deal for both sides. Not one side or the other. Not a crazy player, not a crazy team deal. That’s always been my No. 1.”

Both Nutting and team president Travis Williams personally sought out Reynolds in the first week of training camp at Pirate City, talking with him before batting practice to clear the air and any ill feelings.

“We try very hard to filter out those emotional outputs,” Nutting told the Tribune-Review. “It’s not really what matters. What matters to me is that Bryan knows — and I hope he does after this week — how much we appreciate what he’s doing for the team, how much we respect him as a person and a player. He really is a good baseball player. He really is a dedicated, hard-working, wonderful part of the team. And we would love to find a way to make that work.”