From time to time, Pirates Breakdown likes to reach out to its readership to answer the burning questions of the Pittsburgh Pirates fan base.
As we can tell from the rising temperatures, summer is here and with it the first round of All-Star voting updates. Currently, no Pittsburgh Pirates regular is projected to be voted into the starting lineup by fans. That does not mean that no one on the current club will make the team of course. What better place to start for our first mailbag feature of 2016?
[pullquote align=”full” cite=”Mary R.” link=”” color=”#000000″ class=”” size=””]Will Polanco or Marte make the all-star team?[/pullquote]Of the two, Gregory Polanco has the best chance. Starling Marte‘s batting line is solid; but his success has not yet translated to run production in a traditional sense with just 19 RBI on the year. His 17 Stolen Bases leap off of the page in a time when the art of a stolen base is quickly fading into oblivion. Polanco has turned heads around baseball with his uptick in play, and that will carry him through to his first All-Star nod, provided he does not see a drastic drop in production.
[pullquote align=”full” cite=”Ron J.” link=”” color=”#000000″ class=”” size=””]With Melancon and Feliz in contract years, is Watson the heir to the closers role next year? If not, who else could be in line?[/pullquote]The easy answer is to pencil in Tony Watson as the closer for 2017 and possibly beyond. In my opinion, there is no other intriguing option that would match the talent of Watson, much less exceed it to the point where a move would be made. Watson has great splits against both right-handers and left-handers, giving Clint Hurdle no reason to play any type of matchups with his likely closer, which he is not apt to do regardless.
The name Chad Kuhl is seemingly on every Pittsburgh Pirates fans’ lips right now, and rightfully so. He could be a darkhorse candidate should the team unexpectedly cut bait with Watson, but I would be surprised if the “closer” position is addressed before the end of 2017.
[pullquote align=”full” cite=”Jason M.” link=”” color=”#000000″ class=”” size=””]Do we extend Cutch? And if so, at what price?[/pullquote] [pullquote align=”full” cite=”Michael N.” link=”” color=”#000000″ class=”” size=””]Is it too late to trade Cutch?[/pullquote]I wanted to include these two questions together to illustrate the dichotomy that exists in the fanbase regarding Andrew McCutchen. If you would have told me at this time last year the fanbase would have been this divided about their perennial MVP candidate.
To more directly answer the questions, I don’t believe the Pittsburgh Pirates will extend McCutchen, and that may end up being the right move. The outfielder will be just a month out from his 32nd birthday when his contract expires. The Pirates are not a team that can afford to pay for past performances; rather they need to project and pay for what is to come. With the heir apparent in Austin Meadows waiting in the wings as well as some unheralded but deserving lower-level outfield talent such as Tito Polo, the Pirates should not feel obligated to attempt to keep McCutchen anywhere past what should be considered his ‘prime’ years.
Whether or not the fan base can accept that is another story entirely.
With that being said, it is not too late to trade McCutchen. Despite his historically bad starts, he is still an exceptional hitter in many different ways. The shallower positioning in center field has helped his defense. If he can find his way back to his customary level of summer production while batting out of the two-hole, it shows an affinity for good hitting no matter where he might be inserted into the lineup. He carries great value, and should continue to carry it through the length of his contract.
Stay Tuned For Part Two of our Mailbag Tomorrow Morning!
Featured Image Credit – Daniel Decker Photography
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