Andrew McCutchen Trade Unlikely But Not As Crazy As You May Think

It’s no secret that the Pittsburgh Pirates have fallen far, far short of expectations through the first three months of the season and with a record of 38-41, sit in third place in the NL Central and face a double-digit game deficit as we approach the all-star break.

Andrew McCutchen has been the face of the franchise since his promotion in June 2009 but for the first time in his career, the former NL MVP is under the gun. He leads the club with 12 home runs, though his batting average through 75 games is only .239. There’s still a lot of season left but he’s on pace to have by far his worst statistical season.

Anytime a star shows any type of regression at this point in his career, you’ll have fans and media personnel talking potential trades. It may seem crazy considering the overwhelming impact McCutchen has had on the Pirates, but when you consider who else they have in the outfield and the talent coming through their farm system, it’s not quite so ridiculous of a thought.

Fans have been waiting for the outfield to come together in Pittsburgh and if McCutchen were able to figure things out in the second half of the season, it would easily be the best unit in all of baseball. Left fielder Starling Marte leads all eligible Bucs’ players as he’s hitting at a .331 clip. Right fielder Gregory Polanco is right behind him at .299. If we’re being blunt, McCutchen is the worst of the Pirates outfielders at this current moment. No disrespect, just true.

It’s unlikely the Pirates would deal McCutchen this season but it’s something that will be talked about as long as long as he continues to struggle. His current contract will expire after next season and considering they’ll have one of the league’s top prospects, Austin Meadows potentially ready sometime next season, McCutchen could be in a new uniform before the conclusion of 2017.