Morning Rundown: Andrew McCutchen potential return, International signings, Pirates make a trade

A busy day for the Pittsburgh Pirates

Photo Credit: Ryan Palencer

According to Jason Mackey, the Pirates are near a deal to bring back Andrew McCutchen.

Drafted and developed by the Pirates, McCutchen debuted in 2009 before getting traded in 2018. He returned this past season and played in 112 games, posting a 115 wRC+, before partially tearing his Achilles against the Milwaukee Brewers.

McCutchen, 37, picked up the 2,000th hit of his career in 2023 and will enter this upcoming season one home run away from 300.

According to the article, the deal could be done as soon as next week.

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With the International signing period closing, the Pirates made a couple more signings.

They came to terms with three players;

SS Jayden Kim

RHP Enmanuel Chapman

RHP Jermia Berroa

There isn’t much known about the players, but Chapman had a rough go around in Cuba, allowing 24 earned runs in 13 innings pitched. He’s 25 years old.

Kim is 17 and listed at 5’11” and 170 pounds. Berroa’s page lists him at 6’2” and 185 pounds.

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The Pirates also made a trade, acquiring outfielder Edward Olivares from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for minor leaguer Deivis Nadal. It was a move the Royals needed to make to open up a 40-man spot for some of their recent signings.

Olivares, 27, slashed .263/.317/.452 last year for the Royals, with a 105 wRC+ and 12 home runs in 385 plate appearances.

He had a 126 wRC+ against lefties last season, which could make him a platoon option, but that was more an outlier than anything else. His platoon splits over his major league career are much closer (104 vs. LHP, 96 vs. RHP).

Nadal, 21, has spent the last two years with the Bradenton Marauders, stealing 44 bases. After hitting just one home run in 56 games in 2022, he jumped to eight in 101 this past season.