The Pirates are likely to be fielding calls on outfielder Andrew McCutchen all winter -- in part because he's coming off a down season, meaning other teams are trying to get a steal; and in part because that's just how life goes for small-market teams when their best players are nearing the end of their team control.
Yet one team that might not be calling the Pirates again when it comes to McCutchen? The Mariners, who, reportedly, had their inquiry end quickly:
Sources: #Mariners inquired on Andrew McCutchen earlier this offseason; those talks with #Pirates did not advance. @MLB@MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) November 20, 2016
That the Mariners' talks failed to advance is predictable. Seattle just doesn't have the kind of farm system to offer a prospect quality the Pirates would likely want in return. Still, you can't blame Jerry Dipoto for trying to add another potential impact-level player to his lineup.
McCutchen is potentially under contract for an additional two seasons, as the Pirates -- or whomever employs him around this time next year -- will hold an option worth nearly $15 million on his 2018 services. As previously mentioned, he's coming off a down season. His 103 OPS+ and -0.7 WAR were each career-worsts. McCutchen just turned 30 in October, so there's sufficient reason to hope for a bounce back.
Whether McCutchen's attempt at a rebound occurs in Pittsburgh or elsewhere -- well, we'll see.
