Does a Baltimore Orioles, Andrew McCutchen Match Make Sense

The Baltimore Orioles are looking to acquire a starting outfielder, and the rumor is that the Pittsburgh Pirates are looking to trade their MVP center fielder, Andrew McCutchen.

The Baltimore Orioles offseason plans include adding depth to their outfield. It isn’t every day that a player like Andrew McCutchen is included in trade talks. Then again, the Pittsburgh Pirates aren’t like every other team.

As a small-market team, the Pirates like to acquire talent for their top players, before they hit free agency. See Bonds, Barry as an example.

Could Andrew McCutchen work for the Baltimore Orioles? According to CBS Sports’ Dayn Perry, the Baltimore Orioles are the third-most likely landing spot for the superstar outfielder.

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Should we pump the brakes on that? Maybe.

The Washington Nationals and Texas Rangers have expressed interest, and the Seattle Mariners have had talks as well. But, does it match up?

The Pirates are set in the outfield, which is why McCutchen is expendable. They are in good shape with starting pitching. However, the bullpen is a different story.

Let’s be honest; the Orioles don’t have enough valuable pieces in the farm system to complete this trade. But, they do have a wealth of bullpen options to put together an attractive trade.

The Pirates are not looking to add salary so that Brad Brach would be an interesting piece. Their bullpen has several left-handed parts so that the right-handed relief pitcher would be a solid fit (where Zach Britton may not).

So, let’s say that Brach is an essential piece. The Pirates are certainly going to want more.

So, the next key piece I would throw in is Trey Mancini. I know that Mancini is going to be a good ballplayer, the first baseman Chris Davis controls the position for the foreseeable future. And, the Pirates are in need of a first baseman.

Is it a steep price, yes. But, let’s be honest, where exactly is Mancini going to play. There are wonders about whether he can play another position other than first. But, his bat is certainly ready for the majors.

In this trade, the Pirates would get a setup/closer they could pair with Tony Watson, and their new starting first baseman, their biggest need. The Orioles would get the outfielder they need, a guy who is an excellent on-base player who will be expected to rebound from a terrible 2016.

The Pirates would get two players under team control for many years, and two guys with very low salaries.

The Orioles would get a player who fits what they can spend, and are dealing with places of strength.

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If I’m Dan Duquette, I am calling the Pirates’ front office and trying to make a deal.

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Does a Baltimore Orioles, Andrew McCutchen Match Make Sense?

By Nate Wardle | Dec 1, 2016

The Baltimore Orioles are looking to acquire a starting outfielder, and the rumor is that the Pittsburgh Pirates are looking to trade their MVP center fielder, Andrew McCutchen.