Pirates/MLB
Pittsburgh Pirates
Latest on Andrew McCutchen
Andrew McCutchen is the Washington Nationals Plan A but to what extent?
As the Pirates and Nationals have been working on completing a trade that would send the former MVP to Washington, this afternoon leaks emerged of the Nationals not just being focused on McCutchen.
[hide]
From Jon Heyman of Fan Rag Sports.
[The Nationals remain focused on Andrew McCutchen for center field, for now, as he’s their top target. But they’ve also considered others for center if that doesn’t work out, including Adam Eaton, Dexter Fowler, Carlos Gomez and even their old friend Ian Desmond, who was a shortstop in Washington. The Nationals talked to the Pirates last summer about McCutchen and would seem to have the pieces to do a deal, including top outfield prospect Victor Robles and young pitchers Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez and Joe Ross. However, there’s no guarantee they get McCutchen, who has drawn interest from others teams and could stay in Pittsburgh (one rival GM suggested Pittsburgh is almost past the point of no return with McCutchen, but Pirates-connected people say there’s no issue with keeping him after the trade talk, which has happened before).
The Nationals also have been one of the main five teams in on the Chris Sale derby, but it’s possible their refusal to include Trea Turner has hindered those talks, leaving McCutchen as their best upgrade option.]
This is a typical ploy from Washington’s end that they feel the Pirates are asking for too much in starting to leak some names they’re also considering.
Washington, though, has the money to go after who they want, so the Pirates have to be careful not to lose a top suitor and be out of options as the Pirates refusal to debunk the McCutchen rumors makes the relationship moving forward a very difficult one.
There is increasing talk the Nationals will strongly consider pulling out of trade talks if there’s not a deal done before the start of the Winter Meetings and have made that known to Pirate officials.
Cat and Mouse game might be developing here.
Photo: David Hague[/hide]
