PIT signs CF McCutchen to 6-yr./$51.5M deal

[TooLiveBrew]

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McCutchen's new contract will pay him at least $51.5 million through the 2017 season, with a chance to earn $64.75 million should the Pirates exercise a club option for the 2018 season.

 

I'm not sure if he was a super-two guy or not, but if not he would've entered his first arbitration season in 2013. So the Pirates get at least two seasons of FA in exchange for McCutchen's financial security.

[JoeHova]

Seems pretty good for both sides. Not sure I would have agreed to a club option if I was MCutchen though.

[RockCoCougars]

This is a deal that a team like Pittsburgh needs to make. Better to take a calculated risk on your own proven quantity than to overpay for someone from somewhere else.

[whizkid]

Seems pretty good for both sides. Not sure I would have agreed to a club option if I was MCutchen though.

 

 

$13.25M option would be a good enough payday for him if picked up and likely there's a buyout. Agreeing to the option year probably got him a little more in the earlier years. Option years aren't added in a vacuum.

[Invader3K]

It's something they had to do. The criticism of the Pirates' ownership was starting to heat up over the off-season again, so I'm guessing this is partly designed to appease the fan base.

[brettac1]

Great deal for both sides.

[monty57]

I love deals like this. The player gets security and a small market team gets to hold onto one of its stars. The Pirates have some good, young talent. If they can develop this talent and lock them up, they could turn into a winning franchise.

[TooLiveBrew]

I think the Pirates have been moving in the right direction ever since they hired Huntington as GM. Imo they're definitely going to be a serious contender in the division before long.

[Warning Track Power]

Despite the fact this makes the Pirates better in the long term, I love this signing. Keeping a player with the talent of McCutchen in a small market brings a smile across this man's face.

[Baldkin]

I think the Pirates have been moving in the right direction ever since they hired Huntington as GM. Imo they're definitely going to be a serious contender in the division before long.

 

They definitely have. It's easy to forget they were in first place in July last year, before their wheels came off. They were then 16 games back when the Brewers finished their series in Pittsburgh just 6 weeks later.

 

Why must these teams get good GMs, can't they just keep being incompetent? At least we'll still have the Astros to beat up on... oh wait.... we won't.

[reillymcshane]

I think McCutchen is great. He's only 25. It's good for Pittsburgh to lock up a guy who is something special, especially during his prime years.

 

I remember in the 2005 draft I would have been happy with him instead of Braun - my top pick was Ryan Zimmerman. I guess any of them would have been fine to have.

 

I really thought McCutchen was going to have a monster year in 2011 after he started out so good. I think he had around a .900 OPS as the all-star break - then struggled in the second half.

 

Good deal for Pittsburgh. I think they locked up a guy who is going to be great.

[TooLiveBrew]

Skin color aside, he really reminds me of Weeks as a hitter. A little less raw power, but similarly quiet yet explosive swings imo.

 

 

I think he had around a .900 OPS as the all-star break - then struggled in the second half.

And, as you hinted, any RH hitter who puts up the kind of numbers he has with PNC Park as his home looks pretty dang legit.

[Cirillos Hot Corner]

Even though they're in our division I can't help but root for them (besides when they play us obviously). Glad to see them lock him up, I'm a huge McCutchen fan, the guy is super fun to watch play.