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Poll: After Cole trade, will Pirates deal McCutchen before spring?

Justin K. Aller / Getty Images Sport / Getty

This could be the beginning of a whole new era in the Steel City.

On Saturday, the Pittsburgh Pirates struck a deal to send right-hander Gerrit Cole to the defending champion Houston Astros. A former first overall pick of the Pirates, Cole spent five seasons in black and gold and was the ace of their 2013 squad that broke the franchise's 20-year playoff drought.

But the Cole trade appears to signal that change is coming for the small-market franchise. Now, only four players remain from the Pirates' last playoff team in 2015 - and some of them may hear their names called next. Most notably, perhaps, is former NL MVP Andrew McCutchen, the heart and soul of the Pirates franchise who's been mentioned in trade rumors all winter.

Does the Cole trade signal a complete rebuild in Pittsburgh? And does this mean McCutchen will be elsewhere when spring training opens next month?

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