It's official: Yankees add Andrew McCutchen in trade with Giants
The New York Yankees’ deal to add former MVP Andrew McCutchen is now official. The club announced Friday morning that its trade with Giants — chatter of which was everywhere Thursday night — was completed and McCutchen would be joining the team this weekend.
In return, the Giants are getting infielder Abital Avelino and pitcher Juan DePaula, who rank No. 23 and No. 26 respectively in the Yankees’ farm system, according to MLB Pipeline.
It's August 31st and Andrew McCutchen is a New York Yankee. pic.twitter.com/yuIWnZrkeo
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) August 31, 2018
The trade comes as Yankees slugger Aaron Judge is taking longer than expected to return from a wrist fracture. McCutchen was one of the biggest names moved this past offseason. His original ballclub, the Pittsburgh Pirates, traded him to San Francisco in January for a pair of prospects. He’s served as San Francisco’s everyday right fielder this season.
Why are the Giants moving on from Andrew McCutchen?
The season hasn’t gone exactly as planned for San Francisco after adding McCutchen and Evan Longoria in the offseason. The Giants had hoped that adding a pair of veteran sluggers with proven backgrounds would be enough to elevate the offense after it struggled in 2017. It simply hasn’t worked out that way.
McCutchen, 31, has seen his averages and power drop this season. He’s hitting .255/.357/.415 with 15 homers through 130 games, which is down from his career average of .288/.377/.481 and 24 homers. Longoria, on the other hand, has missed time with injury while also producing well under his career averages in his age-32 season.
Where would Andrew McCutchen fit with Yankees?
McCutchen still has some value because his age, his offensive background, his ability to play center field, and the fact he’s not an expensive short-term rental. He’s in the final year of a seven-year/$65.25 million deal. The Pirates are already paying $2.5 million of the $14.7 million he’s owed this season.
According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Yankees and Giants are splitting the remaining $2.4 million that McCutchen is owed this season.
McCutchen to #Yankees is official. #SFGiants get Avelino and Juan DePaula. The teams split the roughly $2.4M McCutchen is still owed this season.
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) August 31, 2018
The Yankees have World Series hopes and are in obvious need of outfield help with Judge’s injury lingering. It makes sense to add a former MVP and Gold Glove winner to the mix.
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