Pirates GM: Door 'will continue to be open' for Bryan Reynolds on contract extension talks

DUNEDIN, Fla. — A day after Bryan Reynolds said he would be willing to waive his trade request if the Pittsburgh Pirates offer a contract extension that is a “fair deal for both sides,” general manager Ben Cherington responded by saying the door “will continue to be open.”

At Grapefruit League media day Thursday at the Toronto Blue Jays’ minor-league complex, the Pirates general manager addressed Reynolds’ first public comments since asking to be traded last fall after turning down a reported five-year, $76 million offer.

“I would hope we have more of a chance to talk more about it,” Cherington said. “We respect and appreciate who Bryan is, as we’ve said before. He looks terrific. He’s here in Bradenton. He’s had a great offseason. I think he’s prepared for a really strong season. As I’ve said earlier this offseason, our focus is to get better, and he’s a big part of that, on the field, starting that process this spring training. I don’t have any further news to share. Would certainly want that door to be open.”

Reynolds, who will make $6.75 million this season, remains under club control through 2025 with two years of arbitration eligibility. Asked how to weigh what type of long-term contract Reynolds wants against what is best for the Pirates, who are coming off back-to-back 100-loss seasons, Cherington opted to speak generally about contract negotiations.

“I think there are players who — through some combination of performance, consistency and earning trust — we want to give an alternative but respect that it’s really a personal choice,” Cherington said. “And it ought to be. Our job is to provide the choice. You can’t do that in every case, but in some cases (you) provide a choice and (however) it goes, do what we can to support that player, support the team. And, yeah, we got to keep it keep in mind: We want to win and sustain that winning for as long as we can.”

Cutch returns to Pirate City

The most anticipated addition of the offseason arrived early at Pirates camp, as Andrew McCutchen returned to wearing the black and gold on the field for the first time in five years.

A five-time All-Star and 2013 NL MVP in nine seasons with the Pirates, McCutchen participated in activation drills, batting practice and shagging flies in right field Thursday morning. Manager Derek Shelton recognized the buzz McCutchen created with the Pirates’ young players.

“I think some of our guys are excited to see him,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. “The thing about having a young group, if you spend any time around LECOM or Pirate City or PNC, there are a lot of pictures of Cutch up from previously when he was here, when the guy wins an MVP.”

Shelton also highlighted that McCutchen made the choice to return to the Pirates on a one-year, $5 million contract five years after being traded to the San Francisco Giants for Reynolds.

“He did not make the decision to come back because it’s a farewell tour,” Shelton said. “He really likes where our club’s at. He’s vocalized that. He likes our young players. He thinks we’re in a good spot. I think some of them, (it’s) maybe a little bit just because they’re young and they grew up watching him play, but I think more importantly they’re excited that he’s part of our group and wanted to be part of our group.”

Blocking Choi

When the Pirates made a medical objection to Ji-Man Choi playing for Korea in the World Baseball Classic, the first baseman said he was “deeply hurt” by the decision.

Cherington said Choi’s recovery from surgery to remove bone chips from his right elbow last fall factored into the decision, made after the Pirates had staff visit Choi in Arizona “off and on throughout the winter.” Cherington said the Pirates don’t anticipate any restrictions on Choi in spring training games.

“He’s on the right track,” Cherington said. “But his offseason was different than they had been in the past. And, yes, that was part of the conversation about the WBC. At the time those decisions were made, it wasn’t clear that he was going to be fully ready to participate in a way that you’d want a player to be. So we had some concern about that and had a conversation with him. But we anticipate that where he is now, he’ll be fully ready by the time we get ready to play this season.”