One of the especially irrational posters on Smizik's blog offered the 'theory' that McCutchen was not included on last years All Star roster at the Pirates behest, so to make him less expensive in his arbitration years. I'm disappointed that with all of the satirical Nutting Conspiracy posts no one here thought of that one first.
http://communityvoices.sites.post-gazette.com/index.php/sports/bob-smiziks-blog/29104-hurdles-gamble-pays-off#comments