San Francisco Giants Acquire 5-Time All-Star Andrew McCutchen
Jan 16, 2018, 12:00 AM | Updated: Jan 4, 2019, 11:23 am
PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 26: Andrew McCutchen #22 of the Pittsburgh Pirates hits a grand slam home run in the second inning during the game against the Baltimore Orioles at PNC Park on September 26, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The grand slam home run was the first of McCutchen's career. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
(Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
(Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
by Matt George – Sports 1140 KHTK
The San Francisco Giants’ winter of making moves continued this weekend by trading for Pittsburgh Pirates fan-favorite, and 5-time all-star center fielder, Andrew McCutchen.
After acquiring another multi-time all-star in Evan Longoria on December 20th, San Francisco sent right handed pitcher Kyle Crick, minor league outfielder Bryan Reynolds, and $500,000 in international signing bonus allocation to Pittsburgh for McCutchen, who they hope can help solve their outfield woes of last season.
Now 31 years old, McCutchen won the National League MVP award in 2013, leading the Pirates to their first playoff appearance in two decades. His numbers have declined since that MVP season, finishing last year with a .279 batting average, 28 home runs, and 88 RBIs in 156 games. Maybe the most exciting stat of all for Giants fans is his durability, having played in over 150 game in all but two of his nine seasons.
Giants manager Bruce Bochy expressed his excitement to have McCutchen on his roster with members of the media; “Andrew is a dynamic player on the field and will be a leader in our clubhouse. He’s always been a threat at the plate and he’s a guy you don’t ever want to deal with whether he’s at the plate or on the bases. He’s going to make something happen.”
This will be the final year of McCutchen’s six-year, $51.5 million dollar contract that he signed before the 2012 season. The Pirates will also send some cash to the Giants to help cover the final $14.75 million of his deal.
Outspoken Giants right fielder Hunter Pence didn’t take long before welcoming McCutchen to San Francisco on twitter:
Eager to chase birds with you in the outfield. Welcome to the @SFGiants , @TheCUTCH22 pic.twitter.com/r0tqawDgo0
— Hunter Pence (@hunterpence) January 15, 2018
Earlier today, Bochy announced that, despite playing center field in Pittsburgh, McCutchen will play predominately right field for the Giants. Pence will be moved to left field.
Now, with names like McCutchen, Longoria, Pence, Buster Posey, Madison Bumgarner, Brandon Crawford, and Johnny Cueto, the Giants certainly have the pieces they need to get back to prominence in the National League West. They are looking to bounce back after a dismal 64-98 record in 2017.
Spring Training games begin on February 23rd in Scottsdale, Arizona.
