Pirates GM foreshadows making 'potentially unpopular decisions'

It could be a rough offseason for Pittsburgh Pirates fans.

With reports swirling that the club is already aggressively shopping star outfielder Andrew McCutchen, Pirates general manager Neal Huntington didn't exactly temper rumors of a complete rebuild Wednesday, warning the club's fans that there could be contentious moves to come this winter.

"We will continue to make challenging and potentially unpopular decisions," Huntington told the Pittsburgh-Tribune Review's Travis Sawchik.

Huntington's comments are referring specifically to trades this past season that saw second baseman Neil Walker and closer Mark Melancon shipped to the New York Mets and Washington Nationals, respectively.

Both had prominent roles with the club before being swapped.

Pittsburgh received starter Jon Niese for Walker, though he struggled, posting a 4.91 ERA with the Pirates before they sent him back to the Mets at the trade deadline. In Melancon's deal, the club opted for youth in return, acquiring 25-year-old hurler Felipe Rivero and pitching prospect Taylor Hearn.

No controversial trade would be without a purpose, however, as Huntington added any swap is simply the price to pay to "keep this organization in position to play playoff baseball," according to Sawchik.