Fansided

One offseason move each MLB team needs to make

By Joshua Sadlock

MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 01: Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the Miami Marlins during the game against the Atlanta Braves at Marlins Park on October 1, 2017 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Miami Marlins via Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 01: Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the Miami Marlins during the game against the Atlanta Braves at Marlins Park on October 1, 2017 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Miami Marlins via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
22 of 30
Next
WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 28: Andrew McCutchen #22 of the Pittsburgh Pirates takes a swing during a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on September 28, 2017 in Washington, DC. The Nationals won 5-4. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 28: Andrew McCutchen #22 of the Pittsburgh Pirates takes a swing during a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on September 28, 2017 in Washington, DC. The Nationals won 5-4. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

Pittsburgh Pirates: Trade Cutch

For all intents and purposes, All-Star center fielder Andrew McCutchen was on his way out of Pittsburgh at the Winter Meetings last year. The trades eventually fell through and the Pirates decided to move him to right field without really discussing it.

Maybe not the best way to handle the final years with a franchise icon who has helped make baseball relevant again in the football-crazy Steel City.

The 2017 season could not have gone worse for the Pirates after their decision to hang onto McCutchen for at least one more season. Infielder Jung Ho Kang missed the entire year after running afoul of the law in South Korea. McCutchen’s replacement in center field, Starling Marte, got popped for PEDs and missed 80 games.

McCutchen started this year in the same funk that dragged him down in 2016. He was hitting an even .200 on May 23, but something finally clicked after that low point. McCutchen hit .313/.400/.540 with 23 doubles and 22 home runs in his final 111 games.

The worst thing that can happen for the Pirates in the 2018 season is that they hold onto McCutchen to start the year, struggle to contend and are forced to deal him as a two-month rental at the deadline. They will get the most and have the easiest time moving forward if the trade is made this offseason.

Home/MLB