Andrew McCutchen has spent his entire nine-year career with only one organization, the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Steel City just traded away the face of their franchise, McCutchen, to the San Francisco Giants. With Gerrit Cole being shipped out of town just a couple days ago, it appears McCutchen was a logical trade piece for a rebuilding Pirates team. Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic was the first to report the news.
The full details of the trade will send McCutchen to San Francisco along with $2.5 million cash to cover part of his $14.75 million salary for the 2018 season. Pittsburgh will receive a pair of minor leaguers including Kyle Crick and Bryan Reynolds. The Pirates were also able to acquire $500K in International Bonus Pool money that they can spend on the International market.
Pittsburgh.My Home.My Fans.My City. The placed that raised me and helped mold me into the man I am today. You will 4ever be in my heart.A tip of the cap to all who have been on this journey with me. With Love and respect,
Cutch pic.twitter.com/QB0n9vuBuZ— Andrew McCutchen (@TheCUTCH22) January 15, 2018
McCutchen, 31, has just one year remaining on his contract which likely proved pivotal in this trade. With just one year of control, the Pirates weren’t able to lure the top of the line prospects in the Giants system. The San Francisco system, of course, is lacking talent, to begin with. In the end, Pittsburgh was able to land Crick, the former 49th overall pick in the 2011 MLB Draft and Reynolds, the Giants 2nd round pick in 2016. Reynolds ranks as the 4th best prospect within the Giants system while Crick chalks in at number 15.
Pittsburgh general manager Neil Huntington gave a rundown of what fans can expect from return for McCutchen:
“Kyle Crick is a physical, Major League-ready right-handed reliever who brings a high-velocity, live fastball complimented by a quality slider to potentially pitch in a late inning role for the Pirates,” said Pirates GM Neal Huntington. “Kyle’s power arsenal has resulted in a high strikeout rate complimented by inducing a lot of weak contact. After his first exposure to the Major League level last season, Kyle appears ready to take the next steps in what should be a productive career as a high leverage Major League relief pitcher.”
“Bryan is an effective offensive player that also plays quality defense,” said Huntington. “We look forward to working with Bryan to maximize his tools and help him become a quality well-rounded Major League player who can impact a game in many ways beyond his quality bat.”
After the Giants dealt away Denard Span in the Evan Longoria trade, there was a clear need in centerfield. The Giants outfield was a complete dumpster fire in 2017 compiling an MLB-worst -45 mark in Defensive Runs Saved, and the 28th ranked Ultimate Zone Rating of -11.4. McCutchen likely won’t help all that much in that category after he recorded a total of -14 and -4.5 in those respective stats. The former Bucco will provide some pop with the bat. In 2017 he ripped a batting line of .279/.363/.486 with 28 homers. The Giants will likely need more than just McCutchen in order to produce a successful 2018 season after coming off a 64 win season.
