Report: A McCutchen Trade Looking 'Likely'
PITTSBURGH (93-7 The FAN) - The major talk of the Pittsburgh Pirates offseason has surrounded the future of Andrew McCutchen and if the team would trade their former MVP.
According to Fox Sports Ken Rosenthal, it's beginning to look like more a matter of when, not if, the team will part ways with McCutchen.
ICYMI: An Andrew McCutchen trade looks increasingly likely. Story: https://t.co/LTe65Qp9FZ
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 30, 2016
Rosenthal writes that the Nationals and Rangers make sense in terms of trade partners for the Pirates, but there are a number of other teams interested as well.
McCutchen is coming off the worst season of his professional career, hitting just .256 with 24 home runs and 79 RBI and, by most defensive metrics, the worse defensive season of his career as well.
McCutchen has two more years left on his contract with $14 million coming in 2017 and $14.5 millions in 2018 with a $1 million buyout. It is believed that most teams find his contract to be very reasonable despite his down season in 2016.