Yankees Acquire Former NL MVP In Last-Minute Trade
The New York Yankees have shored up their roster for what they hope is a deep playoff run by trading for former NL MVP Andrew McCutchen.
The Yankees sent two minor leaguers to the San Francisco Giants for McCutchen, 31, a five-time All-Star.
The team announced the trade Friday morning.
It's August 31st and Andrew McCutchen is a New York Yankee. pic.twitter.com/yuIWnZrkeo
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) August 31, 2018
One of the prospects New York traded to the Giants is infielder Abiatal Avelino, 23, who is ranked as the 23rd best prospect in the Yankees system, according to MLB Pipeline.
The other is 20-year-old right-handed pitcher Juan De Paula, ranked No. 26 by MLB Pipeline.
The Yankees acquired OF Andrew McCutchen along with cash considerations from San Francisco in exchange for INF Abiatal Avelino and RHP Juan De Paula.
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) August 31, 2018
While the trade deadline was July 31, teams can make trades in August for players that clear waivers. Friday is the deadline for teams to set their postseason rosters.
The Yankees are in position to make the playoffs as a wild card. Winning the AL East at this point is a long shot as they stand 8.5 games behind the Red Sox.
McCutchen, who won the NL MVP in 2013 for the Pirates, is not the player he once was but is still productive. He was batting .255 in 153 games for San Francisco with 15 home runs and 55 RBIs.
Yankees right fielders have struggled since Aaron Judge has been out of the lineup.
BA: Last
OBP: 29th
SLG: 29th https://t.co/7W5l9S4q8l— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) August 31, 2018
He will give the Yankees some outfield depth as they wait for slugger Aaron Judge to recover from a right wrist injury that has kept him on the shelf since July 26.
Gotta think this Andrew McCutchen trade doesn't bode well for Aaron Judge's return. He doesn't seem to be making much progress.
Stock up for McCutchen, of course, who has hit two-thirds of his home runs away from AT&T Park and needed something like this.
— Scott White (@CBSScottWhite) August 31, 2018
McCutchen will likely see a lot of action in the outfield as manager Aaron Boone has expressed interest in resting right fielder Giancarlo Stanton down the stretch and using him more as a DH.
“There is a day off in his future,” Boone said of Stanton Thursday, before the news of the trade broke, reported ESPN. “With us being as beat up as we are, it’s a little tough to get your horses days right now. We’ve certainly leaned on him heavily. It’s something that we constantly just try to do what’s best for the club and the individual.”
https://twitter.com/JATayler/status/1035363211481104396
McCutchen came to the Giants via trade this past offseason after spending his first nine seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
He is in the last year of a six-year $51.5 million contract.
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