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Report: Pirates believed they had deal to send McCutchen to Nationals

Frank Victores / USA TODAY Sports

Andrew McCutchen was reportedly close to becoming the newest member of the Washington Nationals, as the Pittsburgh Pirates believed they were nearing an agreement to move the 2013 NL MVP.

Not so much.

The sides reportedly had a deal on the table - top prospect Lucas Giolito, Dane Dunning, and a third prospect in exchange for McCutchen - but it fell through, according to Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports.

The Pirates were reportedly surprised when the Nationals finalized a similar deal with the Chicago White Sox for center fielder Adam Eaton - a trade that included Giolito, Dunning, and prospect Reynaldo Lopez, according to Joel Sherman of the NY Post.

Still a member of the Pirates, McCutchen will attend Pirate Fest on Saturday - a charity event held by the organization - where the team will discuss potentially moving the 30-year-old to a corner-outfield spot. McCutchen has said his preference is to remain in center field.

The Nationals were heavily in the mix for Chris Sale, who ended up in Boston for a return of multiple top prospects. Once the Nationals missed out on the ace, they turned their attention to acquiring an outfielder.

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