The Yankees have a clear need in left field heading into the 2023 season, and the team has reportedly been in talks with Pirates about the most notable outfield trade candidate.
According to MLB Network’s Jon Morosi, the Yanks have been among the teams in contact with Pittsburgh about Bryan Reynolds, the 2021 All-Star who hit a career-high 27 home runs last season. Reynolds, who reportedly requested a trade, is a coveted star that won’t reach free agency until 2026.
Per Morosi, one notable “obstacle” in making such a trade happen is the Pirates’ preference in pitching prospects, as Pittsburgh wants starting pitchers to “headline” the return package for Reynolds. The Yankees’ upper levels of their farm system are much more flush with position player talent than pitchers, as some of their notable arms include Clarke Schmidt, Deivi Garcia, and Luis Gil, the latter having undergone Tommy John surgery earlier this year.
Brian Cashman noted on Wednesday during Aaron Judge’s press conference that the trade market has been “difficult,” and that the Yankees would be confident going into the season with internal options filling the left field spot, but Reynolds would be an unquestionable upgrade from the likes of Aaron Hicks, Oswaldo Cabrera, and Estevan Florial.
Follow Ryan Chichester on Twitter: @ryanchichester1
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