Let a different team bail out the Pirates
“Did you ever hear the tragedy of GMDM the Wise?”
“No.”
“I thought not. It’s not a story the Royals would tell you. It’s a Kansas City legend. GMDM…was a general manager so powerful and so wise, he could use his power to influence the owners…to make…bad roster moves. He had such a knowledge of the team, he could even keep the ones he cared about…from being traded.”
“He could actually…not rebuild the team?”
“The dark side of a tenured general manager is a pathway to many abilities…some consider to be asinine.”
“Wh—what happened to him?”
“He became so powerful, the only thing he was afraid of was…losing his power. Which, eventually, of course, he did. Unfortunately, he taught his apprentice everything he knew. Then his apprentice took his job. It’s ironic. He could save others from leaving Kansas City, but not himself.”
“It is possible to learn this power?”
“Not from a Royal.”
***
Doesn’t trading for Bryan Reynolds from the Pittsburgh Pirates sound exactly like something Dayton Moore would’ve done in 2016 or 2017?
I think it does, which is just one of the reasons I think it would be unwise for the Royals to acquire Reynolds. He’s older, he’s declining, he plays a position the Royals actually don’t need covered, and he’s on a bad contract.
Where’s the enticement?
The whole idea of the Royals being interested is maddening.
Let’s break it down a bit more:
Position
Once upon a time, Reynolds controlled centerfield in Pittsburgh. In 2021 and 2022, he appeared in 264 combined games in center compared to just 18 in left and a goose egg in right.
Since then, though, he’s shifted to the corners, playing mostly left in 2023 and 2024 but exclusively right field this season. He’s played in 87 games this year, starting in the field 67 times, every single one of them in right.
I’m not sure if you’re aware of this, but the Royals currently have a young right fielder who some might say is pretty important to the future of this franchise. With first base blocked, said right fielder is either going to stay in right or move to DH. Bringing in Reynolds would most likely guarantee that shift to designated hitter.
Age and Regression
I’ll group these two together. In short, Reynolds is aging and digressing as he does so. That’s not great!
Bryan Reynolds is 2 for 42 over the last 10 games but said he’s confident he’ll be able to bounce back like he has in the past.
My story for @DKPghSports from Citi Field: https://t.co/14rW5RNsij pic.twitter.com/BgUCQbwq5h
— Greg Macafee (@greg_macafee) May 14, 2025
Here are some of his digressing numbers: batting average (49 points), on-base percentage (53), slugging percentage (73), OPS+ (35), batting average on balls in play (46). Meanwhile, he strikeout percentage has jumped nearly four percent while his walk percentage has slightly dipped.
His bWAR has from 3.6 in 2024 to -0.7 this season. His stats his last five games, including two versus the Royals: 1-for-19 with 1 RBI, 1 walk, and 9 strikeouts. Dope.
The switch-hitter turns 31 in January.
Contract
Reynolds inked a long-term contract with the Pirates that enveloped the last three years of arbitration plus numerous years in the future. After this season, he’ll still have five years left on the deal plus a club option in 2031 when he’ll be entering his age-36 season.
He also has a six-team no-trade clause, which evidently does not include the Royals:
Bryan Reynolds’ no-trade list is comprised of six playoff teams, per @_NoahHiles
Yankees
Blue Jays
Mets
Dodgers
Giants
Padres pic.twitter.com/mZxpXHsLjv— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) July 7, 2025
Excluding the team option, that means that the Royals would be bringing in a guy with five-plus years left on his deal with a total remaining balance of at least $75,250,000.00.
And if you think the Pirates will cover any of that contract, well, I have a unicorn I’d like to sell you.
Summary
Lest we forget, the Royals would also have to send something back to Pittsburgh for Reynolds. Going back to the Pirates retaining some of the contract, I also highly doubt they’d be on board for a swap of bad contracts. They’d want a prospect who makes next to nothing.
Overall, when you consider Reynolds’ position, age, digression as an offensive player, and his contract, it makes little to no sense for the Royals to trade for him. He’s not going to suddenly improve playing at Kauffman, nor will he find Youth in one of the city’s numerous fountains.
If this trade happens, then the only thing Reynolds would find is this: an organization dumber than his last.
Learn from the tragedy of GMDM the Wise.
Leave Reynolds in Pittsburgh.