MLB trade rumors: Top 25 trade assets for deadline

5. Andrew McCutchen

The Pirates still seem inclined to move on from McCutchen and move into a rebuilding phase between chances to contend in the stacked NL Central. The All-Star center fielder left millions of dollars on the table by taking a six-year, $51.5-million deal that tied up his early years of free agency. A team option for 2018 could turn his deal into a seven-year pact for $66.3 million. The Pirates will not get another chance at a hometown discount, and they may not feel confident in their ability to field a winner around McCutchen.

Pittsburgh’s front office feels like it’s gearing up to sell at the deadline. Everything they have done over the past six months with McCutchen feels as though they have made up their mind to trade him. He was shopped aggressively at the Winter Meetings, then moved out of center field without any involvement in the decision. That is not the type of move you make with a player that is part of the long-term plan for the franchise.

McCutchen has been arguably the league’s best hitter since being dropped to sixth in the order. In 28 games since being moved in the lineup, he is batting .380/.471/.690 with eight home runs and 24 RBI. Whatever doubts there were about McCutchen’s ability to perform at a high level into his thirties should be squashed at this point. He had been hitting the ball hard all year, but has begun hitting more balls in the air during his hot stretch.