Neal Huntington: Pirates Would Need 'Dramatic Overpay' To Trade Andrew McCutchen

No. We want Andrew to be in Pittsburgh for a long, long time, and we’re hopeful we can make that happen.

I find this response pretty depressing, honestly. Do GMs ever talk about possibly trading a guy when extension negotiations are progressing?

Sweet fancy Moses, can’t we bury that once and for all?

I did play an absurd amount of baseball year round in high school. Some of our seniors would pretty shitty and nobody looked at them to lead because they were always on the bench. Often times it was the juniors or more talented sophomores. That said, I guess our signees are probably above shitty senior level.

He is a fan favorite no doubt. If he were to have a huge season he would still have 3 years under contract. That alone might fetch a big offer from someone. We have Marte waiting in the wings. McCutchen is not the greatest of centerfielders. He is not a natural base stealer, as his percentage indicates. He has a good chance of never being a 30 hr guy. Getting a big return for him would put the minor league talent over the top. Waiting for him to have one year left on his contract will not bring back nearly the return then. Okay I’m covering up my face now like Ali with rope a dope. Let’s have it.

So how many professional games has Marte played? Will he be a star- maybe. I remember a player who broke into the big leagues with the Pirates on September 23, 1968, as a 21-year old. He wasn’t very big, never hit more than 22 HRs in a ML season. His name was Al Oliver. He was a pivotal player on those winning Bucco teams. I guess what I am saying, the Bucs can’t have all super stars on their team, one they can’t afford it and two, how many teams do? I have to agree with Ray, Cutch with Tabata and if Marte is successful would be a fantanstic OF for many years to come.

A team would have to overpay for him is a bla bla statement .First off do the pirates really have 4 yrs of control over a guy who could break the bank in 2 yrs in arbitration. Also if huntington does trade cutch can’t he now claim that a team step up and overpaid for him ,being that its the only way he would trade him.

I have posted this over and over again. The worst thing we can do is let him walk to free agency. I read somewhere last year that McCutchen because of his age, talent and price was in the top 5 for what they could value coming back in prospects. There are teams out there that are desperate for a CF and have a ton of prospects. The Nats come to mind…As do the Angels. As for the person who commented on the first two draft picks not ripping it up. How has strasberg done so far in the majors… oh mixed results because he’s been hurt… how about show me a team that in the same years picked first rounders that are both doing well in the majors right now. There is a reason more and more teams are stockpiling players in the minors rather than bank on 1 guy to come through.

would say differently…….if they needed to improve the surrounding talent.

McCutch has now been in the Bigs 2 1/2 seasons.

This is the year he has to cut down on his K’s to maximize his potential/worth.

He may be more valuable to the team with more triples and less HR’s.

…if the other team can provide a touring company of “No No Nanette” to play PNC, he’s as good as gone.

Obviously, the Bucs as a small market team will never have a dynasty so the most they can hope to achieve is to be competitive, year in year out. We saw a glimse of this the first half of last year. IF the future pitchers come through like we hope they will, a team with light hitting, aka the SF Giants, might be able to get it done. Therefore, as part of “the plan” for the future, players selected via the draft should mimmick this. Thus if these future pitchers are strikeout pitchers mainly, defense may not be as important and a better hitting minor leaguer can be selected. Otherwise, for finesse type pitchers, a better defensive player would need to be picked. At this point, NH seems to like the power pitchers which should dictate what types of players are selected in trades such as Cutch, or any other player that comes to Pittsburgh.

Pujols and Fielder, just to name two.

If I hear a player associated with “veteran leadership,” I immediately downgrade my projection of him by .025 OPS points.

IF McCutchen were to be shopped what would you guys call an “dramatic overpay” for McCutchen? What would you want in return for him?

After looking over everyones roster and minor league systems there does’nt seem to be too many matches. I love Matt Cain I think he would be good starting grounds, but San Franciscos system is pretty thin beyond Gary Brown.

Maybe Atlanta? Jurrjens, Andrelton Simmons, and one of Teheran, Vizcaino, Delgado?

Maybe the Yankees? Austin Romine, Dellin Betances, and Dante Bichette Jr?

Maybe the Blue Jays are the best fit? Kyle Drabek, Travis D’Arnaud, and Jake Marisnick?

Or what about Minnesota? Miguel Sano?

What would we expect in return?

I know it’s a topic of disagreement, but NH’s record on trades is spotty at best (Morton and…). While I like NH, I don’t think he’d “win” a Cutch trade or even get an even deal. That’s especially true as each year of control passes without a long-term contract.

with out him, try to trade him to set themselves up for window number 2.Core 4 is dead ,move on.

someone asked Bryce Harper and Anthony Rendon for Andrew McCutchen? Who hangs up first. The response was the Pirates would do that, but I don’t think the nats would.

I know I would def do that trade in a second.