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Pirates GM: Club always intended to keep McCutchen

Charles LeClaire / USA TODAY Sports

One of the hottest topics at the winter meetings in Maryland was whether the Pittsburgh Pirates were going to trade franchise cornerstone Andrew McCutchen. As it turns out, they never intended to do so in the first place.

Despite reports linking McCutchen to the Washington Nationals and Los Angeles Dodgers, Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said Thursday that his club's intent has always been to keep the 2013 NL MVP, and it's "unlikely that someone changes that," according to MLB.com's Adam Berry.

The Pirates were reportedly seeking significant young talent in any trade for the 30-year-old McCutchen, with Nationals prospect Lucas Giolito being mentioned before he was traded to the Chicago White Sox as part of a package for outfielder Adam Eaton, but obviously Huntington didn't budge.

Even after last season, when he struggled to a career-low .766 OPS across 153 games, McCutchen appealed to clubs because he's owed just $14 million in 2017, and has a 2018 team option attached to his contract valued at $14.75 million, with a $1-million buyout.

The five-time All-Star slashed .256/.336/.430 with 24 home runs, 26 doubles, and 79 RBIs for the Pirates, and is expected to continue to patrol the outfield alongside Starling Marte and Gregory Polanco next season.

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