Andrew McCutchen
Former 2013 NL MVP Andrew McCutchen has been a popular name thrown around as a potential Mets’ trade target, with McCutchen’s value being the lowest it’s been in his impressive eight-year career.The Mets have been reluctant to give up arms in trades, especially after Tigers starter Michael Fulmer blossomed into a ROY candidate in 2016 after being traded to Detroit for Cespedes. But the Pirates, as they’ve always been, are on the eternal hunt for starting pitchers, and the Mets have them to give – if they want to.
McCutchen is coming off a solid 24 HR, 79 RBI, and .256 AVG season, but those numbers are a bit low by his standards. The center fielder produced no less than a .292 AVG, 21 HR, and 84 RBI from 2011-2015, and even stole at least 20 bags three times over that span.
Cutch’ is exactly the type of disciplined hitter that Alderson has always been attracted to. But in a trade scenario, the Mets will need to part with a blue-chip prospect at least to reel him in. If they got him, though, the Mets would owe McCutchen just $14 million next season, with a $14.75 million team option for 2018, giving them valuable control over him for the next two years.
