2:20pm: Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports (on Twitter) that the Pirates asked the Nationals for both Lucas Giolito and Victor Robles but were (unsurprisingly) rebuffed. The Nats do have some questions about McCutchen’s potential decline and also his leadership, according to Biertempfel.
Meanwhile, MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan tweets that the Rangers also find the asking price on McCutchen extremely high, as they’ve been asked for an established starting pitcher and additional prospect value in return.
12:39pm: The Rangers have been in “frequent” contact with the Pirates about McCutchen, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. A deal between the two sides is possible but not close at this time, he adds. Heyman adds that he’s heard it’s “not likely” that the Rangers would actually meet the Pirates’ asking price, though. Additionally, MLB Network’s Jon Morosi tweeted earlier today that the Dodgers have made a recent inquiry on McCutchen as well.
11:10am: There’s a “mystery team” pursuing Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen, according to Jon Heyman of Fan Rag (via Twitter). Pittsburgh is said to be looking for a taker for its longtime star.
To this point, the Nationals have been tied most closely to the former MVP center fielder. The Dodgers, too, have been mentioned recently as having interest, while the Rangers and Mariners have also been connected. But the other possible suitor is a team that hasn’t yet been publicly associated with the Bucs’ stalwart, per the report.
That leaves 25 other organizations that could conceivably have interest. A variety of teams — potentially including the Orioles, Blue Jays, Giants, Phillies, Mets, and Cardinals — might make some degree of sense, and surely there are others that could become involved in the right circumstances.
#tigers
No way
My dad says it’s the Tigers so….
#BringCutchToTheD
How would your dad know?
Father Knows Best
Oaaaaaaakkkkklaaaaaannnnddd
Tigers don’t have prospect means or payroll flexibility to pull of a cutch trade
Fulmer
Just relaying what I heard on live MLB network from the winter meetings.
As a White Sox fan, I would love this move for Detroit. Makes no sense.
The tigers are open to dumping Miggy and Verlander, but are game to trade for Cutch?
The owner has had them go for the missing piece, regardless of cost, in the past. They were ready to start the season with Aviles as the LF last year, due to budget restraints. Oops, accidentally added J-up.
Tigers have a lot of missing pieces that McCutchen won’t solve
lol. They would move the ROTY for a broken down Cutch…nah.
lol don’t laugh when it ends up being White Sox
I dunno man… if they decided to go all in this year and added cutch their lineup would be pretty dirty
Boston
Why?
What? Why? The Sox have no need for him at all.
cubs
Find it hard to think pirates would strengthen Cubs. I’d like it though
They’d have 8 or 9 outfielders. They just wasted 8mil on jon jay. And cutch ain’t a leadoff hitter. That’s what they need. Jay is terrible. They also should try to sign Jansen or trade for Kelvin Herrera and wade Davis. It could be Soler happ and strop for Davis and Herrera. I’d love to see Ventura in cubs blue.
Jay is a bench player, they have no intentions of starting him everyday. Depth for when Soler gets dealt.
Do you honestly think that’s all it would take to get Davis AND Herrera? I don’t think that offer even starts the conversation.
Of course not. Happ for Davis and minor league player. Is plenty. Kelvin would one or 2 more for both. They want a veteran pitcher for the closer. Davis is perfect and he’s played for maddon as well. Extend him at least 3 years its a perfect fit
I’d rather Neil Huntington personally punch me in the balls.
Braves! After they include an outfielder in a trade for an Ace!
What outfielder is going to help them get an ace? Inciarte?
Markakis, if you consider Ubaldo Jimenez an ace. that’s about all you’re going to get for the braves outfielders.
Not by himself man! A package with him in it. Instead of looking for what you believe is a good comeback, act mature an offer a meaningful opinion to the conversation.
Markakis isn’t going in any package for an Ace.
Yes. He or Mallex smith,
There’s a slim chance the Cardinals get him.
Would the Pirates trade the face of their franchise to an in-division rival?
“face of the franchise” or better known as, third best outfielder
Or better known as the best home run hitter.
You really think that he is the best home run hitter? I’m from Pitt and I know for a fact that he is washed up. Must be his new wife
Like cards cubs trade that happened.
yeah it would be Martinez or Reyes straight up
Rockies!
My money is on either the Mets or Cardinals.
The Mets would have to trade at least Granderson and Bruce before going after McCutchen.. I don’t see a scenario where he goes to the Mets.
I am thinking the Mets too. Theoretically as I heard a few Pirates fan suggest recently, they could take back Bruce (along with other pieces) for a year and move Marte to CF. Mets could trade both Bruce AND Grandy and move Conforto to RF and have an opening for CF for McCutchen.
I also think Tony Watson would appeal to the Mets considering they are looking for a potential LHR to replace Blevins.
The point is, I think there is a fit there and also think the Mets have to love the idea of McCutchen batting third in front of Cespedes. Can you imagine the pitches he would get to hit? Unless of course he really is on the downside.
.
I think that I could see him going to the Mets but the Pirates would not get a good trade for 2 old players who aren’t as good anymore
I don’t know if he knows what a good pitch is anymore.he has swung at so many bad ones last year i think that’s all he knows. I myself thought he was one player that would never leave the Pirates and it’s not him leaving on his own but the teams decision to move him
I think the Mets seem like a plausible fit.
No
They have too many OF’s
It’s a long off season and if they’re confident that they can move Bruce and or Granderson, I can see them doing it.
Cutch is a perfect fit for the Mets, but they have to get rid of at least Bruce first!
Who would the Mets have to give??
Considering the mets are outfield and pitcher heavy my guess it’s one from column A and one from column B.
But I still dont think it’s the mets. And as a mets fan I’m not sure how i feel about it. I love cutch but idk…
McCutchen and Watson for Matz, Rosario, and Szapucki we’ll take Bruce for a little salary offset.
rather Lugo than Matz and no way on Rosario. Can already tell Sandy has him playing short in 2018. Have a better chance getting Nimmo or Conforto than Rosario.
I doubt the Pirates get rid of Watson, they are listed as needing a closer or setup man on their depth chart so that would be a step backwards for them.
lol at matz and rosario…. there is zero chance of that even coming close to happening.
i agree i just didn’t want to be mean about it lol
Rosario and Wheeler problably!
As long as he isn’t traded to another division team
Why? They suck again anyway, so who cares.
Blue Jays
Ham Fighters prepping for Otani leaving, iyam.
I don’t see it being the Cardinals. They wouldn’t trade him to a division rival, and the Cards couldn’t give them a package worthy of obtaining Cutch.
Please let it be the Cardinals. It’s not often teams trade within the same division, but it’s not unheard of either.
Cards are a good bet they have the prospects and the need!
It’s unlikely but I would love to see him playing center in STL. If they’re willing to give Cutch away for the package we’re hearing about from Washington then we have a shot.
Indians!
Mariners. We have the need and the payroll. And we def could use him in our outfield since we are all in this year
Cutch would thrive with the Mets, but would love to see him on the Yankees or Red Sox.
I love Cutch but if the Phillies trade for him I’m gonna be kind pissed unless they give up less than expected
Agree , Phillies have no need for a declining outfielder, He be out of the League in five Years !
Nor would I want to give up any of these young players the Phillies have
The Pirates haven’t been shy about mentioning what teams have had an interest in Cutch so far, why would they all of a sudden say a mystery team is pursuing him?
Would make sense if it were the Indians. If they are indeed “checking in” on EE, they seem to be comfortable taking on some payroll.
White Sox and Cards fit, too.
Not Cards!! I can’t believe they or Pittsburgh would trade within division!!
It would be better to trade him to the Cards than the Cubs.
Can Giants be the mystery team for once? haha
Wouldn’t that be nice!! But what would they have to give up to get him?
I think the Giants are the best guess so far….but I do think the Mets want to want to bring him into that offense while they still have such an awesome pitching core together… Cespedes cannot carry that offense by himself for another season…
The Braves tried to get him last off season
Mystery team is no doubt the Angels.
and Arte immediately signs him to a ten year 200 mil extension. heh.
He would be a good lead off hitter for the Angels
the Phillies are the mystery team. boom!
Nice thing if on the off chance he went to someone in the division… .We’d get to see more of him. Bad thing about it is of course.. we’d get to see more of him.
Mystery Team wins the pennant.
Cardinals!!!
Red Sox trading JBJ in a deal for Sale. Opens up Center for McCutchen. Wouldn’t be too surprised.
Lol no way you want Cutch in CF. Better off moving Benintendi to CF and playing Cutch in LF. He has no range and a candy arm
Had the same thought ^^
You seem obsessed in your dislike for McCutchen. It’s sad, really.
Merry Christmas Mets!! Enjoy!!
Please let it be my Red Sox. I know there isn’t a glaring need for him, but he is my favorite player outside of Boston and a man can dream.
Hopefully it’s the twins, they have the need for a professional batsman
That would be nice, but we’re never in on guys like this. I would actually love to get Cutch to Minnesota since he reminds me of Kirby Puckett more than any player since then.
Could be the Jays. They need a player like him, for that salary commitment, to shore up the outfield.
I could see Pompey being part of a trade for an outfield upgrade. McCutchen, Braun, Granderson, etc.
Pirates don’t need anymore outfielders. Wanna give JA Happ back?
JA happ maybe, Stroman absolutely though
Pompey has limited trade
Value
Yeah but the new FO seems like a bunch of penny punchers, can’t see them giving up the better prospects
3 way deal…
Orioles get Bruce or Granderson
Mets get McCutchen
Pirates get 2 prospects from Mets, 2 prospects from Orioles
I’ll take a shot in the dark and say Braves.
If it’s the Giants, they will get it done! They don’t fool around.
Agreed, question is what would they have to give up to get him
Heyman…………Mystery Team
phhhht
Hope it’s the Mariners. Dipoto loves trades and probably have a few pieces the Pirates would like in a trade.
Like what?
McCutchen
God, this has Kenny Williams written all over it unfortunately.
depending on the price, wouldn’t be bad. maybe it’s a 3 team trade. Nats, Pirates, and Whitesox.
If any of the suggestions I read in the comment section are close to accurate (HIGHLY doubt it), they’re going to get way too much for him. The good news is, despite him being on the decline, he would still have SOMETHING left in the tank, unlike Kenny’s normal ex-star pickups. Now that I’m thinking about it more, it’d make more sense for Kenny to wait another 5 years before adding Cutch.
Maybe the Os?? Sure could use him. As long as the Pirates don’t mind horrible prospects in return. Ha
They got Steven Brault for Travis Snider. I think they would be ok with more prospects from the O’s.
8 years ago our farm was stacked now we have absolutely nothing.no way its the os
If we had any more prospects to offer them. Which we don’t!!
I could definitely see the Phillies as the mystery team. They have lots of payroll space, a 40 man roster crunch, lots of quality depth in their farm system, and are looking for veteran bats.
Vince Velasquez headlines the package?
If Vince goes it’s for prospects, not 2 years of an aging vet. Phillies OF’s are close to the bigs, I’d think they want to get a look at them this year.
The only thing I would trade is a bag of balls. I would not want to give the
Pirates any of our young players
I would not trade any of our young players for him. A couple of fringe prospects would be fine, better yet a bag of balls
Dodgers, Mariners, Rangers????
I can definitely see the Mets as a possible mystery suitor for Cutch. The depth of pitching we have ranging from the MLB to the minor is something the Pirates have been looking to add in. I’d even add Rosario to the mix in a package including Steven Matz, Ahmed Rosario and either Bruce or Granderson for Cutch, and possibly use whoever isn’t trade away in Bruce or grandy for a mid to high end reliever capable of closing out games while familia serves his suspension.
Rosario is untouchable. They’ve come out and said as much. And if they were to trade Rosario, Cutch is DEFINITELY not the player to do it for. He’s a bad defensive CF and really should be in LF because of the lack of arm. And the Mets are not getting a mid to high end reliever for Bruce or Grandy. As a Mets fan, I wish they could, but I really see them moving Bruce for salary relief.
Bruce is a 30HR and 100RBI guy. There aren’t a ton of them around. I believe he was top 25ish in the league for both.
T-21st in MLB for HR (T-4th for OFs)
T-23rd in MLB for RBI (8th for OFs)
At $13m…that’s pretty productive.
He may not be worth a young cost-controlled closer, but he is worth a pretty decent BP arm or a couple of lotto ticket prospects.
Sure, lotto ticket type prospects is a better bet. I meant it will be a salary dump for 2017, allowing the Mets to fill the relief role from the FA market. And I really wouldn’t look at RBI as an indicator of value. That sub .300 OBP really hurts his value, and he’s barely passable in the OF. I know the defensive metrics can be unreliable, so I’m not going to spout UZR or DRS stats. Just from the eye-test he’s a below average RF. Not saying he has no value, but I don’t think he brings back anything that helps the 2017 Mets.
That would be a HORRIBLE trade for the Mets. Matz, Rosario, and Bruce/Granderson…lol. For Sales maybe, not a 1yr rental coming off a crap year.
Cutch has two years and his crap year he was still a decent hitter, just not up to his lofty standards. not saying it’s a good deal though
Personally, I’d love to ship him to the Mets. He’s pricey but they may get a little discount just to PISS OFF the Nationals for trying to low ball us!
Jays, Cards, or Nats could pull it off, but BAL
Probably the Cardinals
Doubtful Cards would be in Cutch pursuit… Nor would i expect Bucs to trade within division.
I wouldn’t be shocked
Me neither, it’s surprising how little we’ve heard about the Cardinals searching for a center fielder considering that’s their top priority
Good, keep checking the market. If the Nats don’t want to pay the price, someone else will. Don’t settle
PIT is looking for a sucker to take him. It’s laughable they are asking for teams’ top prospects.
Last season he was less than pedestrian (-0.70 WAR) and played in 153 games, he wasn’t injured that we know. His entire game has been on the decline for the past 3 seasons, his defense is no longer passable and he has said he doesn’t want to move out of CF, and he could very well be nearing the end of his career by the end of this contract if he can’t recover his play. This man’s fall from grace is happening very fast and at a young age. I hope last season was just a fluke, but I’m not so confident.
McCutchen is fool’s gold with a notable name. He makes any team worse.
Um, excuse me, sir! You are selling Cutch way short. He was +0.70 WAR last year!
No, it was -0.70. He’s probably not suddenly going to get better.
He had a knee injury coming out of spring training, and then a thumb injury from June until mid August. After sitting for 3 games in August he hit for power and looked normal. But he’s a bum. Right.
Really? His injuries were so bad that they severely hampered his numbers, but it only took sitting 3 games to make him look “normal” again? You really want to go with that theory?
When you have clont hurdle who would play his players if they had cancer than yeah its gonna hirt him that much. He didnt get an extended break until late july last season and it was only for one series.
So he magically healed after missing 3 games from August 2nd-August 4th, which was actually 4 days because they had off that Monday too. But he couldn’t heal 3 weeks earlier during the All Star break when he had 4 days off? I find that hard to believe. But hey, to each their own.
This is just dumb.
How about assembling a team that can compete with the Mets and Nationals first. Then worry about a late inning luxury.
Sign Chapman to 6/100 and trade him after 1.5 years because he wasn’t the solution.
This is SUPER unlikely but the mystery team could be the Cardinals. They have pitching depth that would satisfy the pirates but it would be a weird deal considering they’re both in the central so it probably won’t happen
I don’t think it’s the Phillies, however, they will soon be back to their “mystery team” bravado they dawned for many rumors.
Tigers trade Norris and Rondon. Rondon needs a change of scenery. Tigers rotation becomes JV, Zim, Fullmer, Boyd, and one of Anibal, Farmer, or Pelfrey. Joe Jimenez takes over Rondon’s role. Those arms have got to be enticing to Pittsburgh.
Lol pirates hang up. Dont get me wrong ton of respect to norris for brating cancer. But thats not nearly enough. Bucs want a kings ransom so the fans dont completly turn on them. The tiger ls dont have the prospects to get this deal done.
Is it the braves and also are they gonna trade inciarte
Make sure you wonder if the Yankees are the mystery team. Angels won’t take ellsbury, but I’m sure they would love mccutchen and 4 or 5 prospects for Trout. Discuss.
No way. First, they wouldn’t want McCutchen. Second, they could strip young controllable and talented major league talent from a team, and a lot of them. A trade for trout is so implausible because his return value is so astronomically high, so what a team would have to give up is just hard to say.
So Yankees get Trout and let’s say Matt Shoemaker.
Pirates get Jorge Mateo, Dillion Tate, and lower level prospect from Yankees.
Angels get McCutchen, Brett Gardner, 4 prospects from the Yankees. Two of those being a combo of frazier/judge, andujar, refsnyder, Austin, etc.
Wishful thinking, but a creative way to get Trout.
If it was something like that, why wouldn’t they want cutch. Instantly would be one of best outfields in the AL where you basically get Gardner and cutch for the same price as Trout….while they serve as stop gaps for frazier. Not to mention trading cutch and/or Gardner at the deadline or next winter will help them gain more prospects to help their rebuild if they don’t compete in 2016.
Bucs and angels get screwed and yanks give up nothing.
Astros… trade McHugh (who they are shopping) + 2 prospects from #15-30. Pirates get MLB ready pitching that slots into a young rotation. Let Teoscar season at AAA. Marisnick/Aoki become bench options or give days off. Less pressure on Cutch to perform plus he gets lineup protection.
Doubt the Pirates are looking for a deal centered around a 29 year old pitcher.
Yea no bucs want younger cost controlled arms. 29 is not young in this league.
Would it surprise anyone if the White Sox were the “mystery” team in on Andrew McCutchen? This is just the kind of player, aging and declining in production, that Kenny Williams loves to acquire.
Instead of trading Chris Sale to the Nationals, who appear to be the front-runners, maybe the White Sox retool (yet again), keep the “Condor” and steal McCutchen away from a potential deal to Washington by offering their own package of “lesser’ prospects. lol
lol this is 100% Kenny Williams style
The same Pirates fans that are complaining about trading Cutch are almost certainly the same ones who complained about the Pirates trading Melancon.
They’d rather have kept him and lost him for nothing than have 5 years of Felipe Rivero. Evidently.
And no doubt, one day they’ll complain when the Pirates trade whoever they get for Cutch.
I loved the Melancon trade! Rivero is filthy and Taylor Hearn has BIG TIME LOTTERY TICKET written all over him!
Agreed.
If NH can repeat that template in the Cutch deal, they’ll be a better team for it.
The Nationals really do seem to be the right fit for the Pirates.
Joe Ross, a guy who has pitched enough to prove he’s a legit MLB pitcher but still has years of club control, is a near ideal trade target for them.
I don’t see where many of the other rumored suitors, the Rangers, Dodgers, Mariners, etc. have a similar player to offer.
Giants
The mystery team is San Francisco. They needed to lock Melancon down as their closer first. Now that Melacon has been signed, the Giants are focusing on their outfield/power bat and Cutch fits the criteria perfectly.
What do they have to send back?
5 for 1. Chris Heston (threw no hitter in 2015), Josh Osich (power arm lefty reliever), Ehire Adrianza (great glove utility player), Jarrett Parker (outfield power bat) and Kyle Crick (AA starting pitcher with great power arm but wild)
The Pirates would never go for that. More like, Cutch and two top prospects for a minor league reliever and a PTBNL.
I hope I’m joking about that last part, but….that package wouldn’t interest me were I Huntingdon.
Love to have him in philly but the odds of it happening are slim to none, so best bet D.C., TEXAS, DODGERS, but the last thing the dodgers need is another outfielder
As much as I agree with we don’t need another outfielder, the dodgers need a right handed bat badly
You heard it Hear …….. This has Kenny Williams All over it
Huntington is crazy if the Nats think they are going to part with two top prospects for Cutch.
Yea im thinking that was the first offer smjust to show that they want a real haul for him and washington cant try to steal him.
Lol. Giolito AND Robles for an aging Cutch that put up under 1 WAR last year? And people think the White Sox are delusional for asking for a “Kings ransom” for Chris Sale? That’s funny. Maybe if Cutch was coming off a 4+ win season that could work. Anyone who pays a price anywhere close to that is paying for the name and past performance and will be very upset. I have no doubt he’s better than he played last season, but his best days are behind him.
he put up at least 5 WAR from 2012-2015. he has 1 bad year probably due to a lingering thumb issue and all of a sudden he’s a has been. what a joke!
He’s a 30 year old center fielder that was BRUTAL in the field – something a “thumb issue” doesn’t affect.
Also, not sure what part of, “I have no doubt he’s better than he played last season, but his best days are behind him,” says has been…
They’re asking for a premium price on someone who had a horrible year. That’s generally not how it works. The joke will be if somebody actually bites at that price, which is absolutely ridiculous.
Mystery team A’s?
Ask for Voth and some other position prospect
Voth would do pretty decent with the Pirates
And this is why your not a gm. Trade the most beloved person in the bigs for a decent prospect and one that nobody will lilely hear from again.
If they were asking for Giolito and Robles from the Nationals, I doubt the Cardinals front office would be willing to part with anything near that for McCutchen.
Lets, evaluate some of the teams in the league.
The Dodgers, Nationals, and Rangers have the prospect to land Andrew McCutchen. That leaves 27 other teams.
However, I really doubt that anyone in the National League Central Division is even considering trading for him. So we have to leave out those four other teams. That leaves 23.
The NL East: The Braves have the players to trade off for McCutchen but considering that they traded for Matt Kemp this past season I don’t think he’s heading there. The Mets just signed Yeonis Cespedes, not going to happen. Marlins could be a player in here but that means they would have to give up Ozuna and some prospects and with the Pirates asking price being high I doubt it and the Phillies are rebuilding. So that leaves 19.
NL West: GIANTS could be the mystery team because they are in need of a left fielder. They have the pieces to make this move but it depends if they want to meet the Pirates asking price. The Rockies, would have to give up Charlie Blackmon, and some prospects. They are basically in the same position as the Marlins. Diamondbacks and Padres won’t even consider a trade.
AL East: Yankees: Have the pieces but may be reluctant to trade. They are in some way in rebuilding mode. as well. Red Sox have their outfield set but who knows they might be able to make a push. Blue Jays may be interested but may be hesitant. Rays: Have the pieces but I doubt it. Orioles: Don’t really think they will focus their attention on McCutchen.
AL Central: Tigers: DOUBT IT! Indians: Possibly but gave up a lot of prospects just getting Andrew Miller, I think they are fine without McCutchen. Royals: Nope. White Sox: They are already trying to trade Sale, Fraizer, and Eaton, so I doubt they will be going after him. Twins: LOL, shouldn’t have mentioned them.
AL West: Mariners: I could see this trade happening as well. The Mariners would this addition and do have the prospects. They would also have to give up Leonys Martin in CF. Astros just signed Josh Reddick so they’re outfield is set already. The Angels have a ton of players in the outfield and don’t really have the prospects to make that trade. A’s have the prospects but I think are reluctant.
So who is left over? In the beginning, I mentioned the Nationals, Dodgers, and Rangers. So the mystery team(s) have to be the Giants and Mariners.
The White Sox aren’t trying to trade Eaton.
White Sox are rebuilding, they’ll make him available.
Big difference between trying to trade him and making him available. Sure they’ll trade him if someone comes to them and blows them away with an offer. They definitely are not shopping him around though.
Well, that’s what I mean about trying to trade him. LOL. If they are making Sale, Frazier available then there a greater chance Eaton will be available as well.
What were you saying that the White Sox were not trying to trade Adam Eaton @Priggs89 ??
Told you so….
Eaton was traded to the Nationals for three minor leaguers…
How do you like them apples?
The best match by far is with Cleveland. Cleveland is in “win now” mode and needs a right-handed bat, CF/RF, and LH relief pitching.
PIT needs controllable SP and potentially a C to take over for Cervelli in a year or two.
CLE gets: McCutchen and Watson
PIT gets: Choice of Bauer or Salazar and Francisco Mejia.
Cutch plays either CF or RF in Cleveland and Watson is the other LHRP they are looking for. PIT gets a legit #2 starter with 4 years of control and the catcher of the future. Both teams are better and fill their holes.
In my view, I think the Indians are fine with what they have. They also have some prospects ready to come up into the Major Leagues. I really can’t imagine them making that swap.
Like I’ve said before I doubt the Pirates part with Watson, they are listed as needing a closer or setup man and trading away Watson would be a step back from that.
But Watson only has one year of control left. PIT’s MO is to deal guys before they bolt as free agents. Rivero could step into the closer role.
I can’t even believe teams are talking about giving up a top prospect or two for an aging, declining player whose value is predicated on his speed, and who can no longer play CF effectively. I wouldn’t give up either Giolito or Robles, or anything close for McCutcheon. I realize what he was, but that’s not what he will be the next few years most likely. Jesus, here’s a 7th inning relieve and two B prospects, otherwise keep him. I know that won’t get him, and that’s fine. Let the Pirates keep him. They value him far more than anyone else should.