Dodgers insider throws cold water on Bryan Reynolds trade hype

When MLB insider Ken Rosenthal revealed potential center field trade targets for the Los Angeles Dodgers not too long ago, there was really only one attractive option listed in Pittsburgh Pirates star Bryan Reynolds.

For those Dodgers fans who haven't been following the Reynolds trade rumors fairly closely, though, he's also the most unrealistic option based on the Pirates' reported asking price. It's unclear exactly what it is, but it's been universally regarded as "astronomical."

Do the Dodgers usually pay such prices, especially in trades, under Andrew Friedman? We think you know the answer to that.

So before LA fans get too excited about this being a legitimate possibility for the 2023 season, let's check in with MLB.com's Juan Toribio, who is usually a voice of reason for these types of topics.

"The Dodgers didn’t want to trade the farm for Juan Soto at the Trade Deadline. Reynolds is a great player, but he’s not Soto. So unless the Pirates significantly lower their asking price, I don’t see how a trade for Reynolds will come into play."

Don't count on the Dodgers trading for Bryan Reynolds based on price

Makes you really wonder if letting Cody Bellinger go was the right move, regardless of what he was going to be paid. The Dodgers whiffed on Kevin Kiermaier, who was apparently their top option to replace Belli, and are now facing zero options in free agency and an underwhelming/limited trade market.

As Toribio noted, if the Dodgers weren't ready to throw the kitchen sink at the Nationals for Juan Soto, who came with 2.5 years of team control, why would they even dream of entertaining doing the same for Reynolds, who is a much lesser player and has three years of remaining control?

Reynolds might be a better, versatile defender, but based on name recognition alone, the Dodgers likely wouldn't be able to rationalize surrendering a similar package for someone like the current Pirate, who comes nowhere close to offering the same impact on the offensive (or marketing) end.

If the Dodgers can talk the Pirates down, then go for it. If he's going to cost upwards of five players, potentially including multiple guys who could help out in a big way come 2023? Absolutely not.