A proposed trade would send Bryan Reynolds to the Dodgers in exchange for three prospects; if this works, the Dodgers should do it right away.
Is Bryan Reynolds on his way to the Los Angeles Dodgers?
Pirates center-fielder Bryan Reynolds is dissatisfied with the Pirates. He has requested a trade, but according to reports, Pittsburgh is looking for a return similar to what Washington received for Juan Soto last year.
Will Laws of Sports Illustrated wrote an article proposing a few win-win trades, and Reynolds to Los Angeles is on the list.
The Los Angeles Dodgers acquire Bryan Reynolds
The Pittsburgh Pirates acquire Michael Busch, Andy Pages and Ryan Pepiot
The Pirates are reportedly looking for a “Juan Soto-type” haul for Reynolds, who made a trade request earlier this month. That’s a ridiculous request from Pittsburgh (and a perfectly reasonable request from Reynolds), but this return wouldn’t be far off.
According to MLB.com, this trade would net the Pirates three of the Dodgers’ top six prospects. While the Dodgers would keep its top three prospects while acquiring the premier center fielder thought to be available.
Reynolds will turn 28 in January and is under contract with the team for three more seasons. He took a step back from his breakout 2021 season, when he hit.302/.390/.522 with 24 home runs and started the All-Star Game, but he still hit a career high 27 home runs. In fact, since his debut in 2019, Reynolds has been one of the most productive and durable players in baseball.
The Pirates would receive three future major leaguers who could be on their next playoff team, even if that is a few years away.
Pages is the youngest of the three at 22 years old, while the other two are 25 years old and should be able to contribute as soon as next season. Pages hit 57 home runs in Advanced A and Double A over the last two years and has a cannon arm fit for either outfield corner, making him a good fit for a Pirates system devoid of impact outfielders.
Meanwhile, MLB.com called Pepiot’s changeup “the best in the minors” ahead of last season, and while he struggled with command in his first few major league appearances in 2022 (27 walks in 36 13 innings), he also showed the swing-and-miss stuff that could make him a top-end starter.
Busch’s profile, according to MLB.com, is similar to that of Max Muncy, as he’s seen time at first base, second base, and left field while displaying a promising mix of power and patience from the left side of the plate (32 homers, 74 walks in 142 games across Double A and Triple A last season).
Would this package be sufficient to entice Reynolds?
If so, the Dodgers should do it immediately. Pages is an intriguing prospect, but he has a long way to go before he’s ready for the big leagues, and it’s unclear where he’d fit in Los Angeles’ outfield with Mookie Betts in right and Miguel Vargas possibly in left. Pepiot is a good pitcher, but he’s only the third-best prospect in the Los Angeles organization. And Busch is a second baseman with the range to play second base without the shift.
As Laws stated, this trade does not cost Los Angeles any of their top prospects and would result in a great replacement for Cody Bellinger in center. Let’s make this trade happen if it’s available.
