7:03pm: A high-ranking Pirates person told Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that the team hasn't entertained offers for McCutchen to this point and has no plans to do so. Kovacevic's piece strongly suggests McCutchen is staying in Pittsburgh.
5:20pm: Andrew McCutchen is not untouchable, but he's about as close as it gets. The Pirates will at least listen to offers for the center fielder, though they would have to be blown away to move him, according to ESPN.com's Keith Law.
The Pirates discussed a potential extension with McCutchen earlier in the year, though talks slowed later in the summer. McCutchen posted a .259/.364/.456 line in 678 plate appearances this past season, setting a career high with 23 home runs. The 25-year-old made his first All-Star team, posting an OPS over .800 for the third time in as many big league seasons.
Justin Upton may be the best comparable for McCutchen, both in terms of trade value and contract discussions. The Diamondbacks listened to offers for the right fielder last offseason, ultimately holding on and enjoying MVP-caliber production. Upton signed a six-year, $51.25MM contract in 2010 that could serve as a model for the Pirates. McCutchen narrowly missed super two status this offseason and is under team control through 2015.
It’s not the fans but the FO that’s hoarding in these arms and not willing to deal any of them. For a player like McCutchen, I’d be willing to offer one of the young arms and then some.
How ’bout Pineda (Mariners) straight up ?
Apparently, NO ONE paid any attention to what happened LAST year, and then, compare it with the year before. Two years ago, the Pirates were as low as a team can go as far as LAST place can take you. The ONLY division with six teams (which makes no sense to me), the Pirates did a complete 180, and for the first time since 1991-92, got to FIRST PLACE. This was a BIG step towards getting better, and being recognized as one of the great teams of baseball. I would honestly hate to see Andrew McCutchen leave, but he has to do what is good for his career…it’s just what happens in sports. A team can’t be successful on just one or two players, but the entire team. I say this as a fan of the Pirates, and just a fan of baseball- The Pirates WILL come out stronger, play TOUGHER, and as a team make the World Series and WIN.
ANYTHING is possible.