Relationship repair needed
contract. And the Pirates? They did absolutely nothing unless you’re counting on Tyler Webb being the team’s savior and making up 25 games on the Cubs in the National League Central Division standings and 7½ on the Cardinals. The Pirates did less than nothing, actually, because they lost their two best bench guys from last season, Sean Rodriguez and Matt Joyce.
But I have to admit that it is encouraging the Pirates didn’t just dump McCutchen’s big salary by taking the best offer for him. Raise your hand if you were convinced that’s what they would do …
Whoa! That’s a lot of hands.
Let me guess. You think penny-pinching Nutting is a horrible owner and cares only about making money? I thought so. I knew I had that one right.
I don’t believe Huntington for one second when he said his intent wasn’t to trade McCutchen at the meetings. There were too many reports that he was the aggressor in the trade talks regarding McCutchen to believe otherwise. I don’t think it was so much because Huntington wanted to shed McCutchen’s $14 million salary in 2017 and $14.5 million salary in 2018, although that surely would have thrilled Nutting. I think it was more because Huntington knows he won’t be able to sign McCutchen to a long-term extension and wanted to get the best value in return for him.
It’s easier to do that when McCutchen is under contractual control for two full seasons instead of 1½ or one.
You don’t think that control is important? Even to big-market clubs? Look at the three outstanding pitching prospects Washington gave up for the Chicago White Sox outfielder Adam Eaton, who isn’t the overall player McCutchen is but is signed for the next five seasons at a bargain price of around $7.7 million per year.
I wish the Pirates would have been able to get that return for McCutchen because young pitching is, by far, the most coveted commodity in baseball. It might have meant the team taking a step back in 2017 but being wellpositioned to be a contender again in 2018 as long as those young pitchers develop. As it is, don’t be surprised if the White Sox — not the Cubs — are the better team in Chicago in two years.
But I’m OK with McCutchen coming back. I’m thinking a lot of Pirates fans also are OK with it and will wrap their arms around him at PirateFest and show their love — genuine love — to him. I think McCutchen is going to bounce back from his mostly awful season in 2016 and have a big year in 2017 in a lineup that could be good enough to compete for a wildcard spot if Huntington is able to pick up even a little bit of starting pitching this winter. Ivan Nova, anyone? I know, good luck with that.
But there is a bigger question here.
Is McCutchen OK with coming back?
It’s going to be easy for Huntington to tell McCutchen that the trade talks were strictly business and not the least bit personal. It’s also easy to think McCutchen will understand. He has been around the game a long time and knows how it works.
But that doesn’t mean it will be an easy sell for Huntington. McCutchen is a human being with feelings. I hear fans say all the time that athletes make millions and shouldn’t care if their pride gets stomped. I’ve never bought that argument. The trade talks might be business to the Pirates, but they are personal to McCutchen.
All of this is complicated by the fact the Pirates want McCutchen to move to a corner outfield spot because they think he’s losing his skills in center field and because they know Starling Marte is a better center fielder. That conversation will be another kick to McCutchen’s ego. It’s a good thing Clint Hurdle is such a wonderful communicator. He’s going to need his best sales pitch with McCutchen.
The Pirates are counting on a couple of things. One, McCutchen is a pro’s pro and will do what’s best for the team even if he doesn’t agree with it. And two, McCutchen will be playing for his next big contract even if it won’t come from the Pirates. It’s in his best interests to have a great season in 2017. Sulking over trade talks and a position change would hurt him just as much as the team. McCutchen is too smart for that. He will swallow his pride and play well next season.
Even if McCutchen hates being here — hates playing for this owner and this general manager — he knows he won’t have to be miserable for long. He’s still going to be traded, if not before the trade deadline next summer, then at the meetings next December. Yes, there is that. I’m guessing McCutchen will enjoy the conversation when Huntington gives him that news a lot more than he will their little talk today.
It’s going to be easy for Huntington to tell McCutchen that the trade talks were strictly business and not the least bit personal. It’s also easy to think McCutchen will understand. He has been around the game a long time and knows how it works. But that doesn’t mean it will be an easy sell for Huntington.
Ron Cook: rcook@post-gazette.com and Twitter@RonCookPG. Ron Cook can be heard on the “Cook and Poni” show weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on 93.7 The Fan.