The San Francisco Giants have been a surprising bright spot in the NL West, managing to stay competitive with powerhouses like the Dodgers, Padres, and Diamondbacks. Still, if they want to seriously contend for a postseason run, simply keeping up won’t be enough.
With over two months remaining before the trade deadline, the Giants have ample time to explore roster upgrades. One intriguing possibility is a familiar face—Andrew McCutchen.
McCutchen previously joined the Giants in a 2018 deadline trade from the Pirates and delivered solid production, posting a .255/.357/.415 slash line with an above-average OPS during his short stint in San Francisco. Afterward, he moved on to play for the Yankees, Phillies, and Brewers before eventually returning to Pittsburgh.
While it would be tough for the Pirates to part ways with their longtime star again, McCutchen would have a much better shot at another postseason appearance with the Giants than with a struggling Pittsburgh team currently languishing at the bottom of the NL Central. Remarkably, Cutch is enjoying one of his strongest seasons in years.
Giants should trade for Andrew McCutchen while they still can
This season, McCutchen has posted 0.6 WAR while splitting time between the outfield and designated hitter, showing he can still handle corner outfield duties at a league-average level. He’s also hit three home runs and currently holds a .779 OPS—40 points better than his 2024 mark.
Realistically, the Giants don’t need McCutchen as much as he needs them. While he remains loyal to Pittsburgh, he’s nearing the end of his productive years on a team unlikely to contend anytime soon. At 38, McCutchen has yet to win a World Series, and although the Giants aren’t guaranteed October success, they at least offer a shot at the postseason—something the rebuilding Pirates may not. He deserves that opportunity.
McCutchen’s fit in San Francisco isn’t obvious, but he could be a valuable bench piece, spelling Heliot Ramos or Mike Yastrzemski in the corner outfield or rotating in at DH with Wilmer Flores. More importantly, his veteran presence and appreciation for the Giants’ storied tradition could benefit the clubhouse.
Given his likely low cost, this is a move Buster Posey and the front office could realistically pull off.
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