Andrew McCutchen is a former Major League Baseball player who spent the majority of his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates. A five-time All-Star and former National League MVP, McCutchen was the face of the Pirates franchise for several years and a fan favorite in Pittsburgh.
However, in January 2018, McCutchen was traded to the San Francisco Giants, a move that was met with disappointment by many Pirates fans.
We will explore whether or not Andrew McCutchen was traded, the details of the trade, and the aftermath of the deal for both teams involved.
We will also examine McCutchen’s career since the trade and offer some closing thoughts on his legacy in baseball.
The Trade
On January 15, 2018, the Pittsburgh Pirates traded Andrew McCutchen to the San Francisco Giants in exchange for pitcher Kyle Crick, outfielder Bryan Reynolds, and international bonus pool money.
The move came as a surprise to many Pirates fans, as McCutchen had been the face of the franchise for several years and was beloved by the Pittsburgh community.
At the time of the trade, McCutchen was coming off a solid but unspectacular season, hitting .279 with 28 home runs and 88 RBIs.
However, he was set to become a free agent after the 2018 season, and the Pirates likely did not want to risk losing him without getting anything in return.
Pirates fans were understandably disappointed by the trade, as McCutchen had been a fixture in the Pittsburgh lineup for nearly a decade.
Many fans took to social media to express their sadness and frustration with the move, with some even calling for the firing of Pirates GM Neal Huntington.
Despite the initial backlash, however, some fans recognized that the trade might ultimately be a smart move for the team, as it brought in some promising young talent in Crick and Reynolds, who could help the Pirates in the long run.
The Aftermath
In the aftermath of the trade, it appears that both teams have benefited in various ways.
For the Giants, McCutchen provided a veteran presence in the outfield and helped the team stay competitive in the National League West.
He played in 130 games for the Giants in 2018, hitting .255 with 15 home runs and 55 RBIs. While those numbers were down from his peak years in Pittsburgh, McCutchen still contributed to the team’s success and helped mentor some of the younger players on the roster.
The Pirates, meanwhile, have benefited from the players they received in the trade. Kyle Crick has emerged as a key reliever in the Pirates bullpen, posting a 2.39 ERA in 2019 and 3.79 ERA in 2020.
Bryan Reynolds, meanwhile, has become a mainstay in the Pirates outfield and was named the team’s Rookie of the Year in 2019.
He hit .314 with 16 home runs and 68 RBIs in his debut season, and while he struggled in 2020, he remains one of the team’s top young talents.
Overall, the trade is now considered a smart move by former Pirates GM Neal Huntington because it brought in some much-needed young talent while also freeing up salary cap space for the team.
McCutchen was set to earn $14.5 million in the final year of his contract, and the Pirates likely did not want to pay that much for a player who was past his prime.
By trading McCutchen, the Pirates were able to acquire two promising young players and save some money in the process.
While the trade may have been unpopular at the time, it now appears to be one of the better moves made by the Pirates in recent years.
Mccutchen’s Career Since the Trade
Since being traded to the San Francisco Giants in 2018, Andrew McCutchen has played for three different teams, including the Giants, the Philadelphia Phillies, and the New York Yankees.
In his first season with the Giants, McCutchen played in 130 games and hit .255 with 15 home runs and 55 RBIs. He was then traded to the Phillies midway through the 2018-2019 offseason, where he played in 59 games and hit .253 with 5 home runs and 23 RBIs.
After becoming a free agent at the end of the 2018-2019 season, McCutchen signed a three-year, $50 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.
In his first season with the Phillies in 2019, McCutchen played in 59 games before suffering a season-ending ACL injury. He hit .256 with 10 home runs and 29 RBIs before the injury.
In 2020, McCutchen returned from his injury and played in 57 games, hitting .253 with 10 home runs and 34 RBIs. He also became just the second player in MLB history to hit three home runs in a game against the Atlanta Braves.
Overall, McCutchen’s numbers have been solid since leaving the Pirates, but he has not quite matched the MVP-caliber performance he displayed earlier in his career.
Despite this, he remains a respected and beloved player in the baseball community and has continued to make an impact both on and off the field.
Here is a Table Summarizing the Performance of Andrew Mccutchen, Kyle Crick, and Bryan Reynolds Before and After the Trade That Sent Mccutchen From the Pirates to the Giants:
| Player | Team (Years) | AVG Before Trade | HR Before Trade | RBI Before Trade | AVG After Trade | HR After Trade | RBI After Trade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew McCutchen | Pirates (2009-2017), Giants (2018), Phillies (2019-present), Yankees (2021) | .291 | 203 | 725 | .265 | 48 | 184 |
| Kyle Crick | Giants (2017), Pirates (2018-present) | 3.06 | 0 | 4 | 3.22 | 4 | 33 |
| Bryan Reynolds | Pirates (2019-present) | .314 | 16 | 68 | .295 | 30 | 107 |
Note: “AVG” refers to batting average, “HR” refers to home runs, and “RBI” refers to runs batted in. All statistics are as of April 2023.
FAQs
How long did Andrew McCutchen play for the Pittsburgh Pirates?
Andrew McCutchen played for the Pirates for nine seasons, from 2009 to 2017.
Did Andrew McCutchen win any awards or accolades during his time with the Pirates?
Yes, Andrew McCutchen was a five-time All-Star, a four-time Silver Slugger Award winner, and won the National League Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award in 2013.
Why did the Pirates trade Andrew McCutchen?
The Pirates traded Andrew McCutchen in order to acquire young talent and save money on his contract. McCutchen was set to earn $14.5 million in the final year of his contract, and the Pirates likely did not want to pay that much for a player who was past his prime.
Who did the Pirates acquire in the trade that sent Andrew McCutchen to the San Francisco Giants?
The Pirates acquired pitcher Kyle Crick and outfielder Bryan Reynolds in the trade for Andrew McCutchen.
How have Kyle Crick and Bryan Reynolds performed since being acquired by the Pirates?
Kyle Crick has emerged as a key reliever in the Pirates bullpen, posting a 2.39 ERA in 2019 and 3.79 ERA in 2020. Bryan Reynolds has become a mainstay in the Pirates outfield and was named the team’s Rookie of the Year in 2019, hitting .314 with 16 home runs and 68 RBIs in his debut season.
Conclusion
Andrew McCutchen’s trade from the Pittsburgh Pirates to the San Francisco Giants in 2018 was a significant moment in his career and in the history of the Pirates organization.
While the trade was initially met with disappointment and frustration from Pirates fans, it ultimately brought in promising young talent for the team and allowed them to save money on McCutchen’s contract.
McCutchen’s performance since the trade has been solid, although he has not quite matched the MVP-caliber play he displayed earlier in his career.
Despite this, he remains a respected and beloved player in the baseball community and has continued to make an impact both on and off the field.
Overall, while the trade may have been unpopular at the time, it now appears to have been a smart move for the Pirates in the long run.
The team was able to acquire young talent and save money, while McCutchen was given the opportunity to continue his career with other teams and showcase his talents on a bigger stage.
