Eligible to return from his 80-game PED suspension July 18, Pirates outfielder Starling Marte began a High-A rehab assignment Sunday. When Marte does rejoin the Bucs, he’ll do so as a left fielder, manager Clint Hurdle told Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and other reporters. Marte has spent the majority of his career in left since debuting in 2012, but thanks to both his excellent work there and Andrew McCutchen’s decline in center field, the Pirates moved the former to center and the latter to right in the offseason (Gregory Polanco shifted from right to left).
Now, with McCutchen enjoying a bounce-back season at the plate, Pittsburgh will keep its longtime face of the franchise in the outfield’s most important position. McCutchen is in the midst of his second straight poor year in center, though, as he posted minus-28 defensive runs saved and a minus-18.7 Ultimate Zone Rating in 2016 and already has a minus-15 DRS and a minus 18.5 UZR/150 this season. But general manager Neal Huntington has seen improvement, noting: “His metrics are better this year. Part of that … is we’ve pushed him back a little bit to play to his strengths and to his confidence, playing gap to gap.”
- It’s possible Marte will head back to center if the Pirates trade McCutchen before this month’s deadline, and Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette observes that the value of both McCutchen and right-hander Gerrit Cole is increasing. Rival evaluators have pointed to Texas as a fit for the two, with one evaluator suggesting that the Rangers would have to give up outfielder Leody Taveras or left-hander Yohander Mendez just for McCutchen, according to Brink. Both Taveras (No. 45) and Mendez (No. 46) rank among MLB Pipeline’s top 50 prospects.
- Sticking with the McCutchen theme, Ryan Lawrence of PhillyVoice.com opines that the in-state rival Phillies should pursue a deal for the 30-year-old. Given that the Phillies have the majors’ worst record (27-53), McCutchen wouldn’t help them vie for a playoff berth this year, but Lawrence argues that he’d still be a worthwhile addition. Philadelphia could acquire McCutchen with the goal of extending him past next season, when his team control expires. If they fail to reach a multiyear agreement by next summer and the Phillies aren’t in the playoff hunt, they’d potentially be able to flip McCutchen, contends Lawrence.
I know the values are to be taken in 1-3 year sums, but this year McCutchen has -15 rDRS in center and his -18.5 UZR/150 is worst in the majors for qualified CFers.
They’re only doing it to TRY to bolster Cutch’s value
Unfortunately, I think the Bucs chance to contend for the division and WS has passed with both Cutch and Cole on the roster. As a smaller market team, we find windows open lasting maybe 3-5 seasons in which we have a realistic shot of making the Wild Card or more. Time to part ways with both of these players and replenish our major league roster and farm system.
It’s unpopular here in Pittsburgh to make such claims but the stark reality is we need to prepare for the 2019-2024 seasons. Plan for the future, cement a solid starting rotation, and have no players below average. I’m a firm believer it is better to have a team of above-average everyday players than one single generational talent. Let’s start there.
I think the Angels and Mike Trout provide ample evidence to your point. If i were to handicap the likelihood of Cutch being traded (outside of an unforeseen injury) it would be closer to 100% than anybody else. How likely do you think it is that Cole is dealt?
What exactly have Mike Trout and the Angels proved? With the once-in-a-generation talent like Trout on their roster the Angels have won ZERO playoff games.
I too would rather have a roster full of above average players rather than one Trout. And besides, McCutchen is/was good, but he was never a generational talent.
That’s what Jayce is saying, read it again….
Oops. My bad. I misread it; I thought he said that Trout and the Angels provide ample evidence to the contrary.
Thank you!
Please, enough of the “Phillies might trade young talent for an aging, declining player. First Stanton is a target, now Cutch. As a Phillies fan in Pittsburgh I love Cutch and watching him play, but no chance the Philly trade away a top 50 talent to acquire him or Stanton and muddy up their books after they FINALLY cleared all of their future commitments. Plus, with the upcoming FA classes in ’17 and ’18 it just doesn’t make any sense to trade minor league talent when they know they won’t be competing this year.
I agree this is silly. Why give up the talent?. Plus outfield is the best part of the farm system. if they really did want to get started on something soon they could just sign the Johnny Cueto types without giving up the prospects. Unless it’s the Angels moving a cf there is no buying with prospects!
you men the great Ben Revere
What makes you so sure with that username?
They won’t trade for someone who would muddy up their books because that would hinder their ability to sign someone who would muddy up their books.
The only reason to trade for McCutchen and extend him is to wall off the Phillies outfield from Bryce Harper next winter.
They aren’t getting Harper
He wants 400 million
They learned their lesson with Ryan Howard
The Rangers arent giving up any more young talent. If anything, they will look to aquire prospects and rebuild the farm system
Agreed. The Rangers aren’t doing that trade for those youngsters.
Texas would have to give up a lot more than just 1 of those youngins
Agreed. I’m a die hard Rangers fan and this team isn’t set up to go anywhere this offseason. Add our sky high payroll, wiped out minor league system, and pending free agents, any additional trades will set this team back for years. They need to be trading their major league players, not acquiring
Amen to that. The system has maybe five quality prospects. Not the time to buy. Time to start selling off. This team is not going anywhere this year.
What I learned tonight:
Never read anything by Ryan Lawrence.
Worst baseball media in the game is Philly.
Off topic from this article, but does anyone know when the new top prospect lists will come out?
Depends on the publication
BA and ESPN are usually mid month. MLB and Sickels usually end of month
As a Phillies fan, have no interest in McCutchen. I’d actually rather trade for him while still struggling badly, if it meant giving up next to nothing in return. Then you take a chance that a change of scenery and new organization somehow rejuvenate him.
I don’t want to give up any legitimate prospects for him.
lmao…no way the rangers do that
Rangers may trade for cole but not for mccutchen
after this horrible weekend looks like the pirates should be ready to sell. Duno if Cutch and Cole are the right pieces to sell though. Cutch’s value is up quite a bit after this hot streak but no one of quality to take his place if they plan on competing in ’18. Meadows hasn’t figured out AAA hitting and is out the next month or so, he won’t be here and Polanco hasn’t lived up to the hype (yet). Corner outfielders are a dime a dozen though in free agency… and MLB average one shouldn’t be hard to find if someone like Jose Osuna or Fraizer cannot fill that role. I’m kinda an odd bird when it comes to cutch.. I say extend him while “he is down” on the cheap, if meadows or polanco come through then great more talent for the market 🙂
Cole hasn’t been consistent.. 11 of his 17 games have been quality starts great! 5 of the remaining starts hes given up 5 or more ewwe…. His track record suggests he’ll be good more than he’s bad but wouldn’t be a top of the rotation start for any real contender. But the Pirates do have a few prospects that will hopefully pan out. I like Cole but there is no way he is extending. Get what you can out of him. If you can get a contender to give up a couple quality prospects who will be ready mid/late 2018 or 2019 then do it.
Cervelli should be on the block too. If he can get healthy soon and stay healthy he could draw interest.
With Bell picking up first pretty well Freese could be another option, but I’d really like to keep him around.
Also getting anything they can for Jaso, Watson, Antonio B and maybe Nicasio.
” Rival evaluators have pointed to Texas ….with one evaluator suggesting …. Rangers would have to give up outfielder Leody Taveras or left-hander Yohander Mendez just for McCutchen”
Aaron Altherr is better than McCutchen and cost nothing in salary.
Is Altherr on the trading block?
Almost whole roster is
As long as they aren’t selling low on Cole, you have to trade both him and Cutch. This is the chance to pry away some near ready impact talent. Cutch with one year or Cole with only two playoff runs instead of 3 have much less value.
The time is now to get a look at guys like Brault, Kingham and eventually, Glasnow again or else all of the time and effort put into them is wasted.
Also, I’d be open to someone overpaying for Harrison but wouldn’t shop him.
Cole is not good this year. Something is up with him. I would not give up a top prospect for him.
Yeah McCutchen is actually worse this year defensively than last year. It’s kind of confusing that the pirates are lying to themselves about it.
Cutch is better this year (so far) than last year in Uzr and UZR/150 at center field by quite a large margin. He still isn’t great… just better. And that is with out Marte in left covering his butt.
You can also tell by watching him hes making better decisions.. than last year.. sometimes they don’t work out in his favor though.
Not sure where the neutral DRS comes from. Fangraphs has him listed as -15?
Also, why use UZR/150 when raw UZR is available? There’s enough fuzziness and assumptions built into defensive metrics already without adding in the guess that he’ll keep putting up numbers at exactly the same rate over the course of a theoretical season.
Ryan Lawrence should open the windows when he writes articles
the window is shut. maybe it’s time to get rid of hurdle. the guy loves shuffling lineups and fielding positions, adores tony Watson and doesn’t give the time any time to gel with a single lineup. yesterday proves it. no cutch, je hey or freese. days of rest give me a break. division is open right now. the Giants SUCK and they swept the pirates. they play great when they win, but are awful when they lose. no in between with the bucs. if you’ve watched them as long as I have, you just know with the pirates. window is shut. trade cutch now. get rid of cole. that guy can’t even last 7 innings.
The Pirates missed their window to win, and now is the time to rebuild the team.
Marte shouldn’t be allowed to play in the minors until his suspension is over. Ridiculous that he can play a rehab assignment and get the benefit of playing in real games while still suspended. This NEEDS to be changed.