The Pirates had the 13th ranked left fielder in baseball, reflecting both the highs and lows of their roster for the season. Bryan Reynolds emerged as the team’s standout player, achieving the most plate appearances at that position by a wide margin, which underscored his importance to their offensive lineup. His replacements, who totaled about 210 appearances, likely brought down the overall performance at left field, Reynolds himself experienced one of his better all-around years. He did lead all of baseball in doubles, showcasing his ability to hit for extra bases. His slash line was solid if not spectacular, resting at .261/.365/.424, which indicates a promising on-base percentage despite not being a home run threat. For the second straight year, he failed to hit 20 homers, a goal that had become somewhat of a benchmark for many power hitters in the league. Yet, where Reynolds truly shone was in his defensive contributions. In left field, he had a defensive runs saved total of +9, marking this as by far his best year defensively. In previous seasons, he had often been classified as a negative fielder or merely at league average. Additionally, he achieved his best Wins Above Replacement (WAR) number of 3.8 since 2021, reflecting his overall value to the team as both a hitter and fielder. Such advancements in both offense and defense are crucial for the Pirates as they seek to enhance their competitive standing in the league.
The Pirates could do a lot worse than playing Bryan Reynolds in left field. He also had a nice year as the DH with an OPS of .775. I am not too sure if Reynolds would bring back that much anymore on the trade market. He is signed through the 2030 season with a club option in 2031. If the Pirates have any thoughts of trading Reynolds, the sooner the better. Otherwise, while Reynolds is never going to carry a club to a playoff spot, he is about as consistent and solid as any player on this team. He should remain a Pirate and play left field and DH.
