Report: Blue Jays interested in trading for McCutchen
The Toronto Blue Jays search for outfield help could lead them to the Steel City.
While there are still a number of a capable options remaining on the free-agent market, the Blue Jays are among several clubs interested in Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen, according to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.
Pirates general manager Neal Huntington shopped McCutchen heavily at the winter meetings, with the Washington Nationals expressing significant interest before trading for Adam Eaton. Huntington has since said he will no longer be making calls to other teams, but didn't rule out the possibility of trading the former National League MVP.
"We took calls. We listened. We engaged," Huntington said earlier this month. "And not just on Andrew but on other players who are on one- or two-year contracts. As we will always do, if we find the right move and we believe the right move is to move the player, we'll move the player. If we believe the right move is to hold the player, then we'll hold the player."
The Pirates reportedly received a strong package of prospects for McCutchen though Huntington turned down the offer as he was said to be seeking a return that involved players ready to play in the majors in 2017 or soon after.
The Blue Jays front office has been motivated to restock the farm system since taking over last winter, and trading their remaining top prospects for McCutchen would go against that method of thinking. Instead, the Blue Jays could potentially look at a proposal involving one of their young starters - such as Marcus Stroman, or Aaron Sanchez - as the Pirates have been in search of a cheap, young pitcher and have been linked to White Sox left-hander Jose Quintana in recent weeks.
A slow start attributed to a down season for McCutchen in 2016 but he still managed to hit .256/.336/.430 with 24 home runs, 26 doubles, and a career-high 143 strikeouts in 153 games. The 30-year-old has finished in the top five of NL MVP voting in four of the last five seasons and is owed $28.75 million over the next two years.