On Thursday, it was revealed by MLB insider Bob Nightengale that the Pittsburgh Pirates are discussing a potential trade with the San Diego Padres involving the only star remaining on its roster: outfielder Bryan Reynolds.
The Padres are reportedly interested in trading pitchers Chris Paddack and Ryan Weathers to the Pirates, but it doesn’t matter: if a trade involving Reynolds goes through, it may be the final push needed for fans to stop going to the stadium, buying merchandise, or watching games on television.
It’s just too much: we are talking about a franchise that has traded Andrew McCutchen, Josh Bell, Jacob Stallings, Adam Frazier, Starling Marte, Jameson Taillon, Gerrit Cole, Richard Rodriguez, and Joe Musgrove in the last few years.
They don’t want to pay anyone, not even their homegrown stars: just as they get close to free agency, they are traded for prospects, and it’s a cycle with no end in sight.
MLB writer Ryan Fagan wonders where fans will draw the line.
“After all they’ve endured the past few decades, i’ve often wondered: do Pirates fans have a last straw? we’ll find out if this deal happens, because I’m pretty sure trading Reynolds would be the last straw,” he tweeted.
after all they've endured the past few decades, i've often wondered: do Pirates fans have a last straw?
we'll find out if this deal happens, because I'm pretty sure trading Reynolds would be the last straw. https://t.co/61neNXGAQU
— Ryan Fagan (@ryanfagan) March 31, 2022
Fans Have Had Enough
Reynolds, who hit .302/.390/.522 with 24 home runs in 2021, is under team control for four more seasons, so his trade value is actually astronomical.
It doesn’t matter if they get five top prospects, however.
Pirates fans are tired of the same scenario repeating itself year after year.
Before going to the playoffs three straight years from 2013 to 2015, they hadn’t qualified since 1992, the last year Barry Bonds was with the team.
And, unsurprisingly, they haven’t made the postseason since that 2015 season.
Last year, they had a 61-101 record, one of the worst in MLB.
Fans have to draw the line at some point.
NEXT: Pirates Remain Stuck In An Endless Cycle With Latest Trade Rumors
