Pirates/MLB
Pittsburgh Pirates
TIOPS Rumor Mill
Andrew McCutchen’s steep decline in 2016 has been the talk of baseball. Five Thirty Eight did a stunning piece a few weeks ago on just how bad of a season he is having for a superstar player in his prime and how the numbers say a major turnaround is not likely in the years ahead.
The pressing issue for the Pirates’ brass internally is coaches want to get McCutchen the hell out of centerfield (despite what Clint Hurdle might be saying through the media).
It’s always been a touchy subject.
As long as McCutchen continued to be a great hitter, the Pirates intended to live with him not being the best centerfielder on the roster. At least management intended to live with it.
Pirate insiders, though, say a breaking point is bound to happen this winter.
Chatter around the league is many baseball insiders feel the relationship between the Pirates and McCutchen could hit a boiling point this winter.
The Pirates intention this off-season is to move McCutchen out of centerfield in what some close to the situation feel could be the end of McCutchen’s career in Pittsburgh. “It’s going to happen [hide] and what happens after that is anyone’s guess,” a Pirate insider said of how McCutchen takes it.
Sources say McCutchen himself knows the request is likely also coming.
The Pirates’ don’t expect McCutchen to take it well.
Prior to the start of the season, the Pirates layed out to McCutchen why he needed to change his positioning on how he defended in center field. It’s led to some friction between the two sides that still remains.
Two seasons from free agency, Pirate officials had already been warned by McCutchen’s agent in mid-March that if they try to move him out of center field, there will be significant backlash as in the possibility of demanding a trade.
McCutchen after an 0-for-8 day in Sunday’s 18 inning win, is hitting .244/.314/.415 on the season with an offensive WAR of 0.6.
Maybe winning cures all in the short-term and the Pirates go on a big run in the second half but some in the Pirates organization are already bracing for the potential of a messy divorce between the two sides this winter.
Liriano on the move if Pirates stumble next 10-12 days?
— Despite an uneven season and having major command issues, there’s enough of a market for Francisco Liriano where if the Pirates stumble over the next 10-12 days, they could pull the trigger on a deal involving Liriano that nets them a good prospect and a player with cost certainty over the next couple years. It’s something that’s not being ruled out by team officials.
The Texas Rangers have been monitoring Liriano for over a month.
The price tag to move Liriano is said to be a prospect and an MLB player that can help the Pirates now and next season.
Liriano, 32, has one year left on his deal and is owed $13 million next season.
Jaso Blocking Bell
— Is 32 Year old John Jaso really worth it to be blocking Josh Bell from being in the Majors?
Jaso is hitting .219 since June 1 with 1 home run, 10 RBI and has 6 extra-base hits.
Managers, coaches in all sports always trust the vets. Another situation here with the Pirates regarding Bell still being stuck in the minors.
The eye needs to be somewhat also on 2017.
Play the kids and the soon to be 24 year old Bell isn’t even a kid anymore.
The Pirates wanting to reintroduce Bell to the outfield has also prompted trade speculation inside MLB circles surrounding Bell, though, Pirate officials privately are shooting down the notion that refreshing Bell on the outfield has anything to do with trade talks connecting the Pirates to starting pitchers they’re coveting in trade talks.
Photo – David Hague [/hide]
