Pirates Trade of McCutchen Would be Unforgivable

Story by Yinzer Crazy Contributor Donnie Roberts II. Follow him on Twitter @OnTo74

We are nearing the trade deadline and names are floating around, as the Pirates are already rumored to be sellers this year. The name that has come up the most is Andrew McCutchen. The Texas Rangers specifically, but other clubs too, have called about the thirty-six-year-old veteran, per MLB Insider Jon Morosi. While teams are likely willing to part ways with top 10 prospects, the Pirates should not even consider a McCutchen trade. 

For one, it will completely alienate the fan base. McCutchen means so much to the city of Pittsburgh. The former MVP has been, quite frankly, the only bright spot this team has had this century. He’s also playing the best ball of his last five years, as he currently has an on-base-percentage in the top 10 in all of baseball. He has brought the city hope this year and not only has he been a leader, but also a major contributor to the team. You could say he’s been the best player and certainly the most consistent. 

Secondly, the Pirates can still compete for a playoff spot, regardless of the slump they’ve been in. The NL Central is one of the worst divisions in baseball, and the Pirates currently sit just five games behind the first place Reds. Can they really stay that hot? And can the Pirates really continue to be this bad?

All of this is arguably without the team’s top two players, Bryan Reynolds, who has missed the past week plus, and of course Oneil Cruz, who we hope to see later in the season. If the Pirates trade away McCutchen, they’re telling everyone that they are punting from midfield in the third quarter.

Trading him is unacceptable for this franchise. They lost him once; they shouldn’t lose him again. McCutchen is the definition of Pirates baseball and is the clear face of the franchise. It’s not worth losing the fanbase that has stuck by this team through thick and thin. It’s not fair to the fanbase, the team, or the city of Pittsburgh. 

And quite frankly - it’s not fair to Andrew McCutchen.