Based on discussions with the Pirates over the last year, Andrew McCutchen’s camp has strongly believed their client would be traded before his $14.75 million club option in 2018 had to be exercised in November 2017.
Despite McCutchen’s turnaround since late May, there still isn’t a commitment from the Pirates yet to pick up the option.
#Pirates leaning against trading McCutchen, but source tells me they’ve given him no indication whether they’ll pick up club option for 2018
— Rob Biertempfel (@BiertempfelTrib) July 24, 2017
When asked about McCutchen’s club option, a team official tells TIOPS the club is only focused on the 2017 season [right now] and McCutchen’s pending club option has no bearing on what the Pirates do at the deadline with him.
“That’s still a ways down the road,” the source said of the 18 option.
