With the calendar having now flipped to April, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world today:
1. Will Reynolds, Pirates starting contest reach a conclusion?
The Pirates and star outfielder Bryan Reynolds reportedly have terms mostly agreed upon for an eight year, $106MM extension. Talks have been held up, however, by the two camps being unable to agree on the presence of an opt-out in the deal. The Reynolds camp is insisting upon an opt-out following the 2026 season, which the Pirates don’t appear willing to offer. An opt-out after 2026 would only provide the Pirates with a single additional year of team control, though Reynolds apparently is willing to agree to the deal being heavily backloaded so most of the money is paid out after the opt-out opportunity. Yesterday, it was reported that the sides “haven’t heard anything” from each other in recent days. Reynolds, a career 126 wRC+ hitter entering his age-28 season, is one of the league’s premiere players and is currently slated to reach free agency after 2025, his age-30 season.
2. MadBum to undergo testing:
Veteran lefty Madison Bumgarner struggled in his first start of the season over the weekend, allowing five runs over four innings of work against the Dodgers. Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo told reporters, including Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic, that Bumgarner went back to Arizona to undergo testing following his start due to what was labeled “arm fatigue”. Bumgarner was once among the best starters in the league during his tenure with the Giants, but since signing his five-year, $85MM deal with the Diamondbacks, he has struggled to a 5.06 ERA in 350 2/3 innings of work. Naturally, if Bumgarner is to right the ship in his age-33 season, he’ll surely need health on his side to do so, underscoring the importance of today’s testing.
3. What will become of Ruf?
Last week, the Mets designated right-handed slugger Darin Ruf for assignment. With that DFA set to come due, it’s likely we’ll have news regarding Ruf’s status sometime today. Ruf is owed $3MM for the 2023 season and a $250K buyout on his 2024 team option. Should they be unable to work out a trade for Ruf with one of the other 29 clubs in the league, the Mets will be on the hook for that salary even if he rejects an outright assignment to Triple-A, as Ruf has more than five years of service time. The 36-year-old Ruf struggled badly in 2022 to a wRC+ of just 89, though he would certainly have value to any club if he was able to recreate his 2020-2021 seasons with the Giants, where he slashed .272/.381/.519 for a wRC+ of 142, and even his career .239/.329/.432 (110 wRC+) slash line would be of value to most clubs.
Reynolds is now a “premiere player”? He’s a nice guy to have on a team, but he’s hardly a premiere player. The Pirates should focus on giving Cruz a Wander Franco-type deal, and let Reynolds earn his pay increases the next three years via arb
Very true. Too inconsistent even when mostly healthy.
How do you figure he’s been “too inconsistent”. Aside from a 55 game sample in 2020 he’s been very good and 25 plus home runs from a center fielder is great.
Granted, Reynolds probably isn’t going to be able to stay in center field but Nimmo was able to turn himself into a solid defender in center and I think most people would take Reynolds production over Nimmos.
Now I do agree that there is zero chance I would give him an opt out unless those first three years were under market value via arbitration. I’m fine with opt outs for free agents but not guys on their rookie deal
I like Cruz as much as the next fan but he’s not exactly setting the baseball world on fire either.
And saying Reynolds is inconsistent without admitting that Cruz is too, is absolutely ridiculous
Agreed. I think he should take the 8 year deal the Pirates are offering. There is zero incentive for the Pirates to buy out only one FA year and then let him opt out. I might side with him more if he wanted 8/115 or 8/120. But asking for the opt out should be a non starter for the pirates.
I’d spend money on Reynolds before than Cruz at this moment. Cruz has high upside talent, but also high bust potential. Reynolds is a very good player, probably 3.5-4.5 WAR range, but I agree that “elite” should be reserved for the Trout’s, Ohtani’s and Judge’s of the game. He’s certainly worth the contract offered. Seems to me that if the Bucs are serious, the two sides should be able to bridge the gap.
He’s a really good Robin, but he’s no Batman. Now Cruz, he’s a Batman. But I think Cruz is going to go the Manny Machado route and bet on himself. Hope I’m wrong.
I expect Ruf to become a FA
More like BR staring and pretending as though he has leverage. Teams also aren’t offering Pitt a major return as if he is a “premier player” even with 3yrs of arb, which tells you landing 9 figures for security now is a good deal w/o the opt out. This would be easy for a club to pull offer off the table if he and the agent play games.
Couple issues I have with this comment.
First, no one other than Cherington and maybe his right-hand associates know every package the Pirates have been offered. If we did, the beat writers would be all over that. So to say they haven’t been offered a major return is just speculation on your part. If Pitt is operating the right way, they won’t trade him for the first major offer unless it’s nearly impossible to beat.
Secondly, if they haven’t been offered a major return, as you posited, then Reynolds does have some leverage. The Pirates are clearly committed to a long-term rebuild and by the time they’re competitive, he’s likely to be nearing free agency or has already reached it. Pitt can’t sit on their hands and do nothing if they aren’t receiving offers to their liking. They don’t need to rush, of course, but each day that goes by in which they aren’t competitive and haven’t moved him is a day he earns a tiny bit more leverage.
“Starting contest”?
I suppose he meant “staring contest”.
Better than a farting contest
Maybe the Pirates want Reynolds to become a two-way player…
Nobody is claiming Ruf just wait for him to clear waivers and then sign him for MLB minimum. Mets own his contract lol.
1. Reynolds is an overhyped player. He’s a decent player but not someone worth trading the farm for. Some team is going to end up overpaying for his services.
2. How is he getting fatigued after pitching 11 innings in spring training and general practice and improvement? Guy seems completely done. Maybe a move to the pen is a better option in his career.
3. Eat the salary. He’s already 36. No chance he pulls out an amazing run of seasons in the coming years. Probably a good independent league guy at this stage in his career.
Ruf was a dog for the Mets; all bark no bite.
Not much bark either…..just one Ruf.
Yeah, it’s been a Ruf stretch for him. But he’s not dogging it; he’s working hard.
Ruf will go to the Phillies and do well.
He didn’t do to well the first time around. But you are probably correct.
pirates in position now where they need to make a decision on Keller and Cruz as well. Crews may be able to get to the Majors really quick as well. things looking better for Bucs.
There has to be some hesitation where Cruz is concerned and I get that. In many ways, he’s a lot like Polanco a few years back. So much potential on display but he was never able to overcome his bad habits at the plate and never learned to play the outfield capably.
Cruz is much like that. He has incredible power and a gun of an arm but jeez, he has some bad at bats and still has issues at SS
Someone above said Reynolds is overhyped. No, the contract situation is overhyped. He’s a good player but not premiere. He could really be a cornerstone here for a team that is showing early on that scoring runs is going to be a problem and he’s much more natural in a corner slot
I go either way in terms of whether they should sign him or dump him for prospects but if this first series is any indication, this team isn’t anywhere near being a competitive club, let alone a contender
Do you watch the games or are you just regurgitating what others are saying about Cruz?
First, Cruz is a young player who is developing his skills as we speak, as evidenced by the fact he has more walks than strikeouts so far and zero throwing errors.
I personally think being around Cutch, listening and watching how a true pro goes about his work is going to help him grow into superstar status.
Scott, I can assure you I’ve played, coached and watched more baseball than you will in ten lifetimes. If you want to spew the true believer approach and embarrass yourself, so be it
“Being around” players is nice but sadly, osmosis isn’t a thing in athletics. Someday when you get out from behind your desk, you may find this out, as hugging your bobble heads isn’t going to make you a better beer league player
I like Cruz and think he has unlimited potential. I like Greg Polanco too and felt the same way. I hope Cruz pans out and the statistics you quote at year’s end are as revelatory as his first three games. But while he has potential, he has a lot to improve
Now run along and play your video games.
Noticed you didn’t answer my question about actually watching the Pirates play this season. But you did take the easy road by playing internet bully.
When you grow up and learn to be an adult feel free to join in with the other adults on this site.
Keller had a very good spring but pitched their opener like he did last season before the AS break, so I’m not sold on him being worth an extension yet
Cruz is playing in his first full season and while he has potential, we’re only 3 games into the season
Did you watch the game or just read the box score? He caused Reds to swing and miss something like 15 times. He’s so far advanced from the Pitcher he was at beginning of last year, it’s not even debatable.
MadBum was done even before he signed that deal with Arizona. What were they thinking ?
He was never the same after that dirt bike accident. His stats before and after are evidence of that. The only thing he’s accomplished post accident was the no hitter in 2020 that was only recognized as a “noteworthy accomplishment” by MLB.
What are they thinking keeping him in the rotation? Talk about throwing good money after bad.
TIL that a 3.90 ERA in 207.2 IP and 2.9 WAR is “done.”
Sad to watch is Bumgarner. I tuned into his battle with Kershaw because I love the guy. I didn’t get out of the first inning.
On the flip side. Another very tough decision Farhan gets zero credit for.
Otherwise, he’s a pretty fair hand at what he does.
He should have traded him at the deadline that year and got something. Dumb decision to pacify a fanbase that still thought he was a good pitcher and that year’s team was going somewhere.
Or he took the middle ground. Sacrificed a middling prospect or two to show respect to a Giants legend. Then let him go.
Also Farhan was showing respect because it was Bochy’s last year and somehow the Giants got back in the playoff race just before the deadline, only to drop off in August.
“Show respect.” LOL! ROFLOL ROTFLMAO! Not trading isn’t “showing him respect.” If anything, it’s better than they trade him because it means he gets to finish out his season on an actual contender and then enter free agency without having a QO attached.
What’s more important? “Respect (lol!) or maximizing the long-term utility from the contract?
If the man single-handedly won you a World Series……respect.
Your excessive laughing at the concept says everything I need to know.
Trading (clap) A (clap) Player (clap) Isn’t (clap) Disrespectful (clap)
Did I miss Bumgarner stating a preference e for a trade ?
Stands to reason he would prefer getting to finish out 2019 pitching for an actual contender and not having a QO attached in FA.
Ok. I was thinking his preference might have been to stay a Giant for life.
Grow up.
If it was he would have done it. It’s not like the Giants didn’t offer him a contract at all after 2019.
Like I said originally, I think they took the middle ground. They didn’t want him long term on a huge contract and didn’t want to disrespect him. They did that by not trading him and the. making him an offer that wasn’t close.
Let’s agree to disagree. Have a great day.
Trading (clap) A (clap) Player (clap) Isn’t (clap) Disrespecting (clap) Him! (clap)
Grow up
Dude seriously, take your claps somewhere else.
Did the Nats disrespect Juan Soto when they traded him? How about the Yankees when they traded Aroldis Chapman? Or the Cubs with Kris Bryant, Javy Baez or Anthony Rizzo?
Go away. You obviously have the mentality of a child.
Did those teams disrespect those players? It’s a simple question.
They didn’t come close to doing what Bumgarner did for the Giants. There is no comparison. Now go away.
Soto, Bryant, Baez and Rizzo were leaders on WS winning teams! And Bryant also won MVP the year the Cubs won the WS! How could their teams disrespect them by trading them!?
Lmfao
If the Giants really respected Bumgarner why did they QO him when he made it to FA lol?
Sure. You win. Congratulations.
“Trading a player is disrespectful when he’s a pending FA and you are out of the race.”
Preposterous…
Are you ok ? You seem to be struggling to let this difference of opinion pass you by.
Do you need me to call someone ?
It’s not an opinion.
Ok. As long as you are good.
As I said before, have a great day.
Clown shoes… just clown shoes…
Bumgarner wasn’t traded because the Giants were only 2.5 games back of the last NL wild card spot at that summer’s trade deadline and because it was a buyer’s market, especially with Bumgarner setting up his no-trade list to include all of the teams that were most likely to try and trade for him, so Farhan probably assumed he would be able to draft a comparable player to what he could get in trade via the qualifying offer. Had nothing to do with “respecting” Bumgarner. If they were trying to respect him they would have declined to extend the QO like the Dodgers did with Kershaw. But make no mistake, if the Giants were 10 games out of the WC at that summer’s deadline Bumgarner would have been traded. I guarantee it.
Farhan gets zero credit because what he should have done was trade Bumgarner at the deadline in 2019. Nick Swiney isn’t even ranked among the Giants’ top 30 prospects.
Ouch that’s Ruff
The Reynolds “extension” wouldn’t really be an extension, then. It is more of a burden if Reynolds is bad, and they really just save maybe a little in arb, plus they maybe get 1 extra year of cheap control. The deal seemed like a bargain, but I would expect an opt out much later on or none at all.
No reason to give Reynolds an opt out. They own him for 3 years and can offer a QO afterwards and either get a pick or another year on a decent price.
He’s not a free agent who can sign with a team who will give into him he’s controlled for 3 seasons.
I’d like if Reynolds side keeps adding provisions or clauses to show how cheap some of these mlb franchises are. The pirates would have no choice but to trade him than deal with his demands of reasonable salary
Common Thread in this posting – All three were formerly with the Giants
All three are former Giants…
The Pirates adding any opt-outs to a deal for Reynolds is an utter waste unless you sign him to a 10 year deal and place the opt-out after the 6th or 7th season.