Today's MLB rumors roundup looks at a decision the Cubs have to make, the Phillies being at the center of trade calls, and Andrew McCutchen's future.
It may not even be June yet, but the August 1st MLB trade deadline is lurking in the background, changing how we consume our daily MLB news and watch games. There is sure to be a lot that goes down between now and then, especially considering the close proximity of divisional races in both leagues.
Plus, we still have the All-Star break to come, which is sure to kick up some trade talks while front offices and agents are largely congregated in the same physical space in Seattle.
Here's what to know about the latest MLB news and rumors today.
Andrew McCutchen wants to play another year with the Pirates
Andrew McCutchen has 15 seasons of MLB baseball nearly under his belt, but he doesn't feel like he's even close to hanging it up. The outfielder who started his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates and made his way back there this offseason wants to come back for at least year 16 in 2024, and he wants to do it with the Bucs.
Here's what McCutchen told Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (subscription may be required):
"I'm not done. I'm not done," McCutchen said, repeating the sentence for emphasis. "Tom Brady said he would stop playing when he [stunk]. I don't want to put it in the same context, but when my body tells me I've had enough, then I've had enough. My body is still saying, 'Nah, you're good. You're fine.' "
The Tom Brady comparison is certainly a bold one (topical considering he plays for the MLB version of the Buccaneers, I suppose?), but it gets the point across. He feels fresh enough to keep going.
McCutchen has been preserved in part by a shift primarily to a designated hitter role with the Pirates. His OPS is .821 (slash of .268/.362/.459) this season, his best since 2019 with the Phillies. He's also already stolen five bases this season, the last time he cracked 10 was in 2018.
While not close to the player he was when he went to five straight All-Star games from 2011-15, including an MVP award in that timeframe, he's still able to contribute and is a steady veteran presence for a ballclub he has a lot of history with. Chances are him coming back will probably make sense for both sides.
Mackey said that while the team and McCutchen haven't talked formally about a deal, it should be a "formality," given McCutchen's hope to return.
Phillies are getting trade calls for starting pitchers
The Philadelphia Phillies are reportedly getting plenty of calls on the trade market about their starting pitchers, particularly their starters. The reports on what they've been involved in indicate that the August 1 trade deadline is going to be very good for any team that has a starter available for trade.
Dave Dombrowski talked about the state of the Phillies starting pitching but first pointed out that looking for rotation fortification is not just a Philadelphia problem, it's nearly a league-wide problem. Even the Phillies are getting calls inquiring about the starting pitching they have available.
That's curious because the Phillies are balancing their own act, but teams may just be getting a lay of the land. After all, plenty could change by August, and if the Phillies tumble in a tough division and become sellers, they could trade someone like Aaron Nola. Nola is on an expiring contract.
More intriguing, though, is what Dombroski said about the asking prices on starting pitching.
"Exorbitant," Dombrowski said about the asking price. "First of all, most clubs need starting pitching. So if you're one of those clubs, you're not going to trade until you get overwhelmed. And most clubs don't overwhelm you at this time. They're trying other alternatives. I know we've played almost 50 games, but when you get to the All-Star break, the standings could look significantly different.
That could play well for anyone with a quality starting pitcher to sell. Or, it could mean teams unwilling to pay the piper that need another starter create an opportunity for their younger pitchers in the background.
Cubs have a huge decision to make with Marcus Stroman
The Chicago Cubs have a massive decision to make with Marcus Stroman, and the clock is ticking on figuring out what they want to do.
Stroman has repeatedly made it clear that he loves playing at Wrigley Field and would love to agree on a deal that keeps him in the Friendly Confines for years to come. The Cubs are inching toward competing, it would appear, based on their extension of Ian Happ earlier this year after the team made signings of talented players in Dansby Swanson and Jameson Taillon during the winter.
Does Stroman fit that bill? He's been in the league 10 years (though he only has played in nine seasons, opting out during the pandemic season) and appears to be playing some of his best baseball. It's hard to tell how long his peak will be and whether or not he's there or not yet.
According to reports, the Cubs want him back. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported that a source told him the Cubs are "open" to a long-term deal (subscription required).
The tension, though, is that Stroman is one of the most attractive pitchers that could be available on the trade market. And starters are going to cost a pretty penny with teams having widespread struggles at the position, as we discussed in the previous slide.
Multiple decisions have to be made. First, do the Cubs want Stroman back? The answer would appear to be yes.
Second, is there more value in keeping Stroman long-term, or securing assets by trading him?
Thirdly, do the Cubs think they could get equal or greater value in free agency this offseason (keep in mind, they could technically re-sign Stroman in the winter), allowing them to replace his value while benefiting from a deal?
It's a tricky situation to navigate. And we won't know if the Cubs made the right choice or not until potentially years from now.
Committing a multi-year deal to Stroman if he's closer to a decline than a plateau could play poorly. Then again, perhaps the Cubs can secure him on a team-friendly deal since all of his cards are on the table about wanting to return.
Stroman technically has a player option this offseason but will almost certainly opt out to earn himself his next contract.
