(Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
After the conclusion of the 2022 season, it appeared that the Pittsburgh Pirates did not have a very bright future.
To make matters worse, star outfielder Bryan Reynolds had requested a trade.
However, despite the early-season injury to Oneil Cruz, the Pirates have played quite well and are actually at the top of the NL Central, leading the Milwaukee Brewers by a game.
And now it appears as if Reynolds has had a change of heart.
On Tuesday, the Pirates gave their star outfielder a massive contract extension.
The deal is worth eight years and $106.75 million.
Jeff Passan of ESPN reported the news on Twitter.
Outfielder Bryan Reynolds and the Pittsburgh Pirates are in agreement on an eight-year, $106.75 million contract that includes a club option and does not have an opt out, sources confirm to ESPN. Amid the Pirates’ great start, they give out the largest contract in team history.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) April 25, 2023
Reynolds’ new contract includes a club option for a ninth season and does not include any opt-out clauses.
Passan also notes that this contract is the largest one in Pirates history.
Reynolds had requested a trade at the end of last season, but appears to have had a change of heart, which is good news for a young Pirates team that has performed quite well this season.
The Bucs lost 100 games last season and finished tied for the bottom spot in the NL Central with the Cincinnati Reds.
However, things have gone much better than expected for the Pirates in 2023, as they have staked out an early lead in the NL Central, a division that many expected would be won by the St. Louis Cardinals.
But it’s the Pirates who have started out hot and surprised everybody around the game by taking an early-season lead in the division.
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