Once the best team in the National League, the Pittsburgh Pirates have fallen hard out of contention. They’ve lost 12-of-13 and have played to a 15-34 record since that hot 20-8 start to the year. This recent losing streak has seemed to cement the Pirates as sellers heading into the trade deadline in a little more than a month. It feels this is management’s plan from the beginning of the season coming to fruition. It has even caused some trade rumors surrounding Andrew McCutchen.
McCutchen returned to Pittsburgh on a one-year deal this past off-season after the Pirates traded him for Bryan Reynolds and Kyle Crick prior to the 2018 season. Reynolds has been a stud for the Pirates so, in theory, the trade worked out. However, it is hard to justify trading a player of McCutchen’s meaning to the Pirates’ organization.
Every off-season that McCutchen had been available, fans took to social media begging for the Pirates to re-sign the former NL MVP. After years of the outcry falling on deaf ears, he finally came back to Pittsburgh this off-season.
Pittsburgh’s start to the season had fans hoping that maybe the Pirates arrived a year or two ahead of schedule. That is not going to be the case. Their current play has them hoping they can simply improve upon their 60-some win totals of the past few seasons. The typical reality around Pittsburgh is starting to set in: the Pirates will sell at the trade deadline.
The #Pirates are likely to be deadline sellers.
Andrew McCutchen, enjoying his best offensive year since 2015, is a fascinating trade candidate.
McCutchen, 36, has never played in a World Series.
One option for Bucs: a summer trade and winter reunion.@MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) June 26, 2023
McCutchen Trade Rumors A Potential Black Eye for Pirates
Upon waking up to the McCutchen news in the offseason, my initial thought sadly went to “they can’t trade him again, right?”. Sadly, I couldn’t just enjoy the reunion. It felt like acquiring McCutchen back signaled that the Pirates were going to try and make a run this season. They weren’t getting 2013 NL MVP McCutchen but they were getting a good veteran who’s done this before.
With McCutchen’s name popping back up in trade rumors, the organization as a whole faces a tough decision. Do you trade McCutchen again and risk a riot in the city of Pittsburgh? Fans will be unkind towards General Manager Ben Cherington and owner Bob Nutting if such a thing happens. I ask again: you just can’t trade him again, right?
[metabet_core_polling_tile query=”bbm/pittsburgh_pirates” size=”350×300″ site_id=”lastwordonsports”]
Without a doubt, the choice has to go to McCutchen. He is very excited to be back in Pittsburgh. He made that evident upon signing his deal. However, he expressed a desire to play beyond this season. It isn’t like he’s playing poorly and undeserving of another shot in the major leagues beyond this season. The Pirates only committed to him for 2023.
Pittsburgh could ship him off to a contending team with a handshake agreement that they reunite this winter. He could be the gift that keeps on giving by an acquiring team essentially renting him for a prospect or two. This way, McCutchen could return to Pittsburgh following this season and the Pirates get a prospect back for providing the acquiring team McCutchen’s services.
What Would Acquiring Team Receive in McCutchen?
The McCutchen trade rumors come amidst the losing skid the Pirates are on. McCutchen’s play, however, hasn’t sunk to his teams’ levels.
Mostly a designated hitter this season, the 36-year old McCutchen has been stellar at the plate. He’s slashing .271/.394/.431 and has hit nine home runs on the year. He probably isn’t a 30-home run guy anymore but a 20 long ball hitter with an elite OBP still plays in the modern game. He’s got nine stolen bases on the season, his most since 2018. If he stays healthy, Cutch could post his first 20-steal season since his MVP-year in 2013. He’s doing this at age-36.
McCutchen’s .394 OBP ranks ninth in the major leagues. He bats lead-off on most occasions for the Pirates because he gets on base a ton. His eye is still one of the best in the game which leads to his high-OBP.
McCutchen’s got a 1.3 WAR this season. Most of his playing time has come at DH but he can still play the outfield just not on an everyday basis. He’s rested up enough, however, if an acquiring team had a corner outfield need, he likely could handle it easily. A lot of his damage comes against right-handed pitching. McCutchen is still posting good numbers against left-handers, though, so it isn’t like he needs to be platooned or protected.
McCutchen is hitting .271/.394/.431 with an .825 OPS and 127 OPS+ with 9 HRs and 24 RBIs. His 9 homers would be 2nd-most on the Phillies. Been worth 1.3 WAR this season.
Is a reunion possible when Bryce Harper moves to 1B? https://t.co/ZNbH01XkiB
— John Stolnis (@JohnStolnis) June 26, 2023
Predicting the Outcome
McCutchen is a team-first-type of player. This leads me to believe he’d accept a trade if the Pirates preferred to move him. I know that sounds backwards but he wants to inevitably help the Pirates. I think if he agreed to the destination, he’d go and chase a ring so long as the Pirates offered him the chance to come back this offseason.
However, McCutchen may only want to don a Pirates’ uniform for the rest of his career. He reserves the right to make that choice. It is certainly possible he wants to stick it out in Pittsburgh even though he’s only signed through 2023. The Pirates would have no choice but to bring him back, however, if he continues playing the way he is.
Pittsburgh has a hand full of veterans such as Carlos Santana, Rich Hill, and David Bednar that could bring back pieces for the Pirates’ future in trades. If they can coup enough future assets, why bother trading McCutchen especially if he prefers to stay?
My guess is that McCutchen will be wearing a Pirates’ uniform post-trade deadline unless the Pirates are blown away by a deal. He means too much to the organization and fans would be in an uproar. Pittsburgh has already promoted top prospects Henry Davis and Nick Gonazles with more on the way soon. McCutchen’s main reason for wanting to come back is what he perceived the Pirates to be building and wanting to be a part of that. Pittsburgh would be wise to allow McCutchen to see that through and quell the trade rumors.
Photo Credit- Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
Players Mentioned- Andrew McCutchen, Bryan Reynolds, Kyle Crick, Carlos Santana, Rich Hill, David Bednar, Henry Davis, Nick Gonzales
