Comments on: Pirates Will Need To Trade McCutchen To Extend Window Of Contention

By: Kevin Creagh

Kevin Creagh — Mon, 21 Dec 2015 02:49:02 +0000

I’d love to see the Pirates extend him to age 35, also, but it’s hard to see him accepting “just” a 4 year extended-extension for $100M. These guys want the number of years and to maximize money. It’s not hard to see him hitting the market (which the 2018 FA market could be insanely loaded) and getting a 6 year/$180M deal.

He’s a franchise icon and as I’ve said previously, if he makes the HOF it will be as a Pirate. But the natural progression in today’s game, esp for small markets, is to trade stars and replenish the talent pipeline.

By: Joe

Joe — Sun, 20 Dec 2015 16:47:15 +0000

Someone will be willing to pay him 25-30million in 2018 over many years. with the depth the pirates have in the minors the pirates won’t be one of those teams. I’m all for extending him till his age 35ish year for 20-25 million a year plus fairly easy to achieve incentives. Would allow us to trade probably more valuable younger guys to get more return than of what cutch can bring back.

By: GB21

GB21 — Sun, 20 Dec 2015 15:38:09 +0000

Of course this all assumes that the Pirates are as small a market as the owner would have us believe. I’m not sure that I buy into everything that the owner is selling.

By: Ecbucs

Ecbucs — Fri, 18 Dec 2015 20:13:32 +0000

This explains why no player should ever take a discount other than for some security.

By: Kevin Creagh

Kevin Creagh — Thu, 17 Dec 2015 19:03:45 +0000

It’s the way the Pirates have to operate and it’s also just good asset management.

By: Kevin Creagh

Kevin Creagh — Thu, 17 Dec 2015 19:03:16 +0000

Lightning won’t strike twice.

By: lee young

lee young — Thu, 17 Dec 2015 17:18:58 +0000

By then, Meadows or Ramirez (or both?) could be ready?

Its the way we have to run our ball club.

By: Harry Schade

Harry Schade — Wed, 16 Dec 2015 16:33:18 +0000

Maybe Cutch would sign another team friendly contract and become a lifer. I doubt it, but it would be refreshing. He already ranks #25 all-time in Pirate’s history based on Plate Appearances. Walker rated #50.

By: Kevin Creagh

Kevin Creagh — Wed, 16 Dec 2015 14:56:43 +0000

There’s no perfect example like with McCutchen, but Justin Upton was traded to the Padres last offseason coming off a 4 WAR season with $14.5M due. Assuming $7M/WAR, there was about $13.5M of surplus value on him. The Braves got three prospects (Max Fried coming off TJ surgery, Mallex Smith, Jace Peterson). None were top 100’s, but Fried has huge upside and Peterson started nearly the whole year for Braves. People like Smith (I don’t) as a future ML-CF option.

So if McCutchen is a 6 WAR player and $/WAR is around $9M/WAR, you could be looking at $40M of surplus after 2017. That may seem crazy, but signs are pointing to 1 WAR being $8M this offseason. I don’t see it being unreasonable that the Pirates can get the haul of prospects as laid out OR a couple of young ML-ready players.

By: Bobveale

Bobveale — Wed, 16 Dec 2015 12:59:49 +0000

Nice analysis, but I think you seriously over estimate the potential return for 1 year of Cutch . He will make 14M in 2018 so let’s say a net savings of 10-15M for the team that gets him. I don’t think you get back 3 guys who project as mlb starters, with combined 18 years of control. Maybe I’m wrong, trying to think of comparable trade. I am holding out hope that Cutch retires a Buc, unrealistic as that is.