MLB Trade Deadline 2017: 5 best spots for Andrew McCutchen

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PITTSBURGH, PA – JULY 14: Andrew McCutchen #22 of the Pittsburgh Pirates celebrates a three run home run by Josh Bell #55 (not pictured) during the ninth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at PNC Park on July 14, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh won the game 5-2. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /

1. Los Angeles Dodgers

This 2017 Dodgers team could go down as one of the greatest in franchise history. Since losing three in a row from June 3 to June 6 to fall to 35-25, the Dodgers have gone 29-4. Their lead in the NL West has ballooned to 10.5 games over a quality Diamondbacks team that is 14 games over .500. Now on pace for over 110 wins, none of that will mean anything if the Dodgers are not able to win the franchise’s first World Series since 1988.

The Dodgers must be all in for 2017. This is truly a once-in-a-generation team. The Dodgers are getting historically-good seasons from Clayton Kershaw, Kenley Jansen, Alex Wood and Justin Turner. They cannot waste that. The one real position of weakness for Los Angeles has been center field, which has been split by Joc Pederson, Chris Taylor and Trayce Thompson.

Pederson has never quite lived up to the immense hype that followed him up through the minor leagues. He is batting just .250/.365/.473 on the year, and has been relegated to a platoon role thanks to his continuing struggles against left-handed pitching. The Dodgers have had their chances to use Pederson in a trade for a big-name player in the past, but have always held onto him. He still does enough things well at the plate and has enough power that the Pirates could be convinced to take him on as part of a trade for McCutchen.

Next: MLB Trade Deadline: 30 players most likely to move

Dodgers GM Andrew Friedman has been reluctant in recent years to make the splashy trade using his top prospects, but he does not have a choice this year. The Dodgers are already feeling out the market for top closer Zach Britton as well as several other elite relievers. They are also a logical fit for Justin Verlander or Sonny Gray. McCutchen may offer them the most impact of all the potential trade targets. Of all the other teams mentioned on this list, the Dodgers can offer the most to the Pirates in a return package.

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