Cardinals: Putting together a trade for Pirates’ Bryan Reynolds

PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 25: Bryan Reynolds #10 of the Pittsburgh Pirates reacts as he crosses home plate after hitting a solo home run in the sixth inning during the game against the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park on September 25, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 25: Bryan Reynolds #10 of the Pittsburgh Pirates reacts as he crosses home plate after hitting a solo home run in the sixth inning during the game against the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park on September 25, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /
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Pittsburgh Pirates Outfielder Bryan Reynolds requested a trade Saturday

The St. Louis Cardinals are heading into the Winter Meetings without making any significant moves so far, but an opportunity may have just presented itself from their division foe, the Pittsburgh Pirates, after star outfielder Bryan Reynolds requested a trade today. The story was first broke by Jason Mackey and reported by FanSided’s own Robert Murray.

Cardinals fans should be familiar with the switch-hitting outfielder, as he has emerged as one of the best outfielders in the National League, earning an All-Star appearance and finishing 11th in MVP voting after posting a 141 wRC+ and great defense out in center field. In 2022, Reynolds slashed .262/.345/.461 with 27 HR and 62 RBI with a 125 wRC+.

The 27-year old started the year slow, putting up a 96 wRC+ and .306 wOBA through the month of May, but then finished out the rest of the season with a 139 wRC+ and .369 wOBA. Reynolds is an elite hitter at the plate who hits well against both right-handed and left handed pitching. In 2021, he posted a .911 OPS against right-handed pitching, and was still great in 2022 with a .814 OPS against those right handers.

The opportunity to add a dynamic bat to the Cardinals lineup, particularly one who can hit well from both sides of the plate, and would provide certainty to the St. Louis lineup is exactly the kind of player that the Cardinals have been waiting for. I threw out the idea of the Cardinals trading for this past week.

Being under team control through the 2025 season as well, Reynolds will not come cheap on the trade market, but I believe this package would serve well for both the Cardinals and Pirates for years to come.