The latest big-name player to join the MLB trade rumors is the Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen. As the former NL MVP days are getting older, his performance has been badly declining this season. Some rumors even suggested that McCutchen's career will be meeting with the retirement session soon.
According to CBS Sports, Andrew McCutchen will turn 31 years old this year and he is coming off his worst offensive season. McCutchen was coming off a down year in 2016 as he hit .256/.336/.430 after averaging .313/.404/.523 in the previous four seasons. The former NL MVP also finished in the top five of NL MVP voting each year from 2012 to 2015 and won the hardware in 2013.
Sources: Likelihood Andrew McCutchen plays in Pittsburgh in 2017 is dwindling. As @Ken_Rosenthal said, Pirates almost certain to move him.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) November 30, 2016
Critics have many reasons to believe that Andrew McCutchen's offensive meltdown was extremely abnormal. The former NL MVP already pass his late-20s, so there's bound to be a regression, but not to this extent. McCutchen had played through a lot of injuries and had a dreadful first half. In the last two months, McCutchen hit .284/.381/.471 and things rebounded a bit down the stretch when he closed .333/.402/.597 in the final three weeks.
Fox Sports News reported that Andrew McCutchen had a below average one defensively, according to the advanced metrics but his contract had $14 million next season. With a $14.5 million club option for the former NL MVP in 2018, it still remains pleasing for the deal.
The Rangers team was currently the Pittsburgh Pirates potential trade partner. The Pirates also are talking with other clubs, sources say, seeking value for Andrew McCutchen after failing to maximize returns a year ago for infielder Pedro Alvarez, whom they non-tendered, and the second baseman Neil Walker, whom they traded to the Mets for left-hander Jon Niese.
However, according to Sporting News, even though Andrew McCutchen's numbers were down overall this year, the former NL MVP did show a glimmer of his old self in August and September, when he posted a .852 OPS.
Do you think the Pittsburgh Pirates should really trade McCutchen?
