Pirates star's no-trade list makes Padres' deadline decision annoyingly easy

It is every baseball player's dream to get drafted, then to reach Major League Baseball. But once that player has become a regular on the big league stage, what is generally the natural progression when it comes to goals? Winning and making the playoffs is a fair assumption for most players who are cemented in the MLB circuit.

While that is true for almost every player, that doesn't appear to be case the for two-time All-Star Bryan Reynolds. The Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder has been linked to several potential trade packages, but Reynolds has a no-trade list that will literally stun any baseball fan.

Reynolds, 30, does not want to play for six playoff-bound teams, including the San Diego Padres. Speechless.

The Padres are in need of one more outfielder, particularly one who can play left field. Reynolds has not played in left this season, but that was his regular position in each of the last two years. With him off the board, the Friars can easily move on from him as a potential option, but let's think about why Reynolds does not want to play for any of these teams.

Is the pressure of winning too much for him? Would he prefer to compete for an organization not expected to succeed? It's an interesting theory, considering these are the records (entering July 7) for each team on his no-trade list.

• Los Angeles Dodgers: 56-35 (.615)

• Toronto Blue Jays: 52-38 (.578)

• New York Mets: 52-39 (.571)

• New York Yankees: 49-41 (.544)

• San Diego Padres: 48-41 (.539)

• San Francisco Giants: 49-42 (.538)

Reynolds has played in Pittsburgh since 2019, and the Pirates have never won more than 76 games during this span. Coming from a club that has never been a winning team during Reynolds' career, does a major league player grow accustomed and comfortable to this lifestyle? It's doubtful, but his list of teams to avoid is a major head-scratcher.

As the trade deadline approaches, San Diego has to make a move. With Reynolds definitely off the board, do they go after another outfielder? Or maybe they try and bolster the starting rotation? The options are wide open, even without consideration of Reynolds.