McCutchen Trade Reaction: Former Pirates Star Dealt To Giants

PITTSBURGH, PA - The last time the Pirates’ best player left to join the San Francisco Giants, the team went two decades without a winning season. Now that it’s happened again, the Bucs can only hope it won’t be that long again before they’re competitive.

In 1992, outfielder Barry Bonds signed with San Francisco as a free agent. On Monday, outfielder Andrew McCutchen, the cornerstone of the franchise for nearly a decade, was dealt to the Giants in a move that left Bucs’ fans heartbroken.

McCutchen, a five-time All-Star and former National League MVP was trader for right-handed pitcher Kyle Crick, outfield prospect Bryan Reynolds and $500,000 in international signing bonus money. The Pirates will give $2.5 million to the Giants to cover part of McCutchen’s $14.7 million salary.

The move came just two days after the team dealt its number one starting pitcher, Gerrit Cole, to the Houston Astros for four players, signaling a major rebuild of the Bucs had begun.

Here’s what baseball executives, analysts and McCutchen had to say about the trade:

• Giants General Manager Bobby Evans: "Andrew McCutchen is a remarkable talent and will be a difference maker in our lineup. We're honored to have him and look forward to seeing him in a Giants uniform."

• Pirates owner Bob Nutting: "There is simply nothing easy about this decision. It is one of the most emotionally agonizing decisions that we have had to make in my tenure. Not only because of the type of player Andrew is, but also because of Andrew the person and for what he has meant to me personally, to our organization, to our fans, and to our community.”

• Alex Brzezinksi, Sporting News: “The Pirates have now entered full fire sale mode after (trading McCutchen and) sending ace Gerrit Cole to the Astros over the weekend. Falling behind the Cubs, Brewers and Cardinals in the NL Central, Pittsburgh opted to wait a few years and try again with new assets.”

• Phil Rogers, MLB.com: “McCutchen is 31 and can be a free agent after next season. The Pirates had held onto him last winter despite a lot of interest from other teams, but they're smart to move him now after winning only 75 games in 2017. It's time to find out how (top prospect) Austin Meadows will do as the center fielder.”

• Christian D’Andrea, SB Nation: “Pittsburgh hadn’t finished above .500 the past two seasons, and GM Neal Huntington decided to sink to the bottom of the pool rather than tread water in standings limbo. Moving Cole and McCutchen will just be the start. Other established veterans likeJosh Harrison, Starling Marte and Ivan Nova could be the next to go.”

• Chris Crawford, Rotoworld (asked by CBS Sports if the Pirates got fair value for McCutchen): "Probably not, but it's closer than the Gerrit Cole trade. I could be overrating Cole and underrating McCutchen, however. I'd still say in this market they didn't get quite enough.”

• McCutchen: “Pittsburgh. My Home. My Fans. My City. The place that raised me and helped mold me into the man I am today. You will 4ever be in my heart. A tip of the cap to all who have been on this journey with me. With Love and respect, Cutch.”

Photo: Associated Press.