Even after adding Evan Longoria from the Tampa Bay Rays in a trade earlier this winter, the previously weak-hitting San Francisco Giants remain in the market for yet another top-end hitter.
According to Jon Morosi of MLB.com, the Giants have had recent discussions with the Pittsburgh Pirates surrounding former NL MVP Andrew McCutchen.
The report notes that no trade is imminent and that the Pirates have multiple teams interested in the outfielder.
McCutchen, 31, has long been on the trade block. Though, Pittsburgh has been hesitant to move the franchise cornerstone. A five-time All-Star, Cutch is coming off a 2017 camaign that saw him hit .279 with 28 homers, 88 RBI and a solid .363 OBP.
San Francisco yielded top prospect Christian Arroyo in the Longoria trade, meaning they’d have to delve deeper into one of the weakest farm systems in baseball to pull off a trade of this magnitude.
It’s something to watch as the hot stove hopefully heats up following a slow start to the MLB offseason.