How Bad Did the Twins Need Andrew McCutchen?

[Ted Schwerzler]

The highlight of the last week for the Twins was when Carlos Correa shocked the baseball world and returned to Minnesota on a long-term deal. Everyone involved with the organization has been riding that high, but did they miss a big opportunity as Andrew McCutchen returned to the Pittsburgh Pirates?

Image courtesy of David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports

First and foremost, it is important to note that it seems as though Andrew McCutchen is looking for a farewell tour. The Pittsburgh Pirates are not good, will not be good, and probably won’t be any better any time soon. That said, McCutchen is among the best clubhouse guys in baseball, and he certainly can make an impact from a veteran leadership standpoint.

McCutchen recently turned 36 years old and is going back to the place he was drafted by and called home for the first nine years of his Major League career. He opted to do that despite reports suggesting the Minnesota Twins made the exact same offer, and the Mets were willing to pay him even more (though we do know the Pohlad’s can best Steve Cohen when they want).

Knowing that it wasn’t purely a financial decision for the former MVP winner, there is no real reason to wonder what it would have taken for him to wind up in Minnesota. What is understandable to be disappointed about is that his addition to the roster could have made a substantial difference.

Over the course of free agency it is clear that Minnesota has engaged with right-handed hitting outfielders to help balance their roster. Currently ripe with left-handed hitters, someone to expand upon the role Kyle Garlick had last year is a must. Someone like Mitch Haniger could have been an option, although much more expensive. A.J. Pollock was a player the Twins had discussions with, and McCutchen is obviously a guy they saw being a fit.

Looking at what is left, it is hard not to be at least a little bit disappointed it won’t be the Pirates outfielder.

As noted previously, McCutchen would have been a great addition to a clubhouse that really seems to have gelled. Correa already brings back a high level of leadership, and McCutchen would have only added to that alongside Byron Buxton. He also remains very fast down the line, and it is clear his plate approach can be utilized especially when facing southpaws.

It would seem odd for the Twins to suddenly cease attempting to find another right-handed option, so we’ll now have to be patient with what emerges. Former Atlanta Braves outfielder Adam Duvall could be a fit, or maybe there is someone on the trade market that Minnesota’s front office likes better. We won’t be able to evaluate if the alternative is better than what McCutchen could’ve brought until we know who it is, but right now it looks too bad that the talented star wanted to head home.

 

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[Twins_Fan_For_Life]

Cutch would have been fine, except that he's kind of a DH type instead of a corner OF.  There will be other options 

[D.C Twins]

Not very...

[Doctor Gast]

Cutch made much more sense than Gallo. Just imagine a clubhouse w/ the addition of Cutch, Cruz & Correa. & the damage they could do against LHPs.

But I'm happy for Cutch & PIT.

[EGFTShaw]

1 hour ago, Doctor Gast said:

Cutch made much more sense than Gallo. Just imagine a clubhouse w/ the addition of Cutch, Cruz & Correa. & the damage they could do against LHPs.

But I'm happy for Cutch & PIT.

Interesting point.

On one hand Cutch isn't the defender he once was and Gallo profiles better as a defender. On the other hand, Gallo is YALHOF, (Yet Another Left-Handed Outfielder) and the Twins are trying to corner the outfield market on LFOFs... LOL

Don't think Cutch would have helped much, but still don't understand the Gallo signing really.

[Doctor Gast]

17 minutes ago, EGFTShaw said:

Interesting point.

On one hand Cutch isn't the defender he once was and Gallo profiles better as a defender. On the other hand, Gallo is YALHOF, (Yet Another Left-Handed Outfielder) and the Twins are trying to corner the outfield market on LFOFs... LOL

Don't think Cutch would have helped much, but still don't understand the Gallo signing really.

Grant you that Cutch doesn't have the stamina he once had. But on a short term basis, I'd still rather have Cutch in CF than Gallo by far.

[jmlease1]

McCutchen might have made some sense, but he also might be completely cooked. He's not really very good in the OF any longer and hoping for a bounceback season at age 36 is a fairly high risk. The stat of how he played after June 1 isn't all that compelling; he wasn't bad, but an OPS around .750 isn't exactly impressive. He's mashed lefties over his career and that's where the fit comes in, but I dunno how badly we needed him. More like a nice to have, if the team moves an OF.

While I didn't love the Gallo move and I still think it's probably not a great move unless they do something to rebalance the OF a bit, historically Gallo is pretty neutral on his splits and doesn't have to be shielded against lefties the way guys like Kepler do.

[miracleb]

"That said, McCutchen is among the best clubhouse guys in baseball, and he certainly can make an impact from a veteran leadership standpoint."

When you add the above sentence to an article, you are basically saying  "I got nothing."   How did "clubhouse guy" Carlos Correa impact the Twins the 2nd half of last season?  It is all about the amount of talent you have on the team!   McCutchen can have his farewell tour elsewhere.....which is ok....because he is a nice guy......

[August J Gloop]

Cutch would have been nice. I think his choice to sign with the Pirates for roughly the same money tells you where his competitive heart is at. He feels the end and wants to have a smooth transition to retirement. I don't fault him for that one bit. He's only played outside Pennsylvania 1 year, and it wasn't that much fun for him. I think it's a great way to celebrate a great career, one more year being loved up by your best fans.

I will say that the Gallo thing is getting way too much angst off this crowd. Dude has mostly been a great hitter in his career. He takes an unorthodox approach, but for the most part it's worked. Sure 2 out of the last 3 seasons have been a bit crap, but who hasn't had some of the worst days of their lives the past 3 years? Sandwiched between those two dud years? a pretty great one. He was a 4 win player in 2021!  Heck we got folks in here talkin like Cutch would be a better bet. Joey Gallo put up more WAR last year than Cutch. In fewer plate appearances. While posting career lows in almost every offensive category.

It's been since 2017 that Cutch has posted 4 wins.

To answer the headline's Q: Zero. The Twins needed Cutch exactly zero much. He'd have been a nice luxury.  

[Tibs]

The Twins needed him exactly zero.

We can't be signing a 36 year old outfielder after having a career worst offensive season as a 35 year old expecting a bounce back year. At this point probably not a defensive asset either.

This roster is not good enough to sign someone solely for clubhouse presence.

[Fire Dan Gladden]

Kind of feels like you could take out Andrew McCutchen and insert just about any FA right handed hitting OF into this article.  Not sure how the Twins missed out, or even may have missed out, on anything here.

[tony&rodney]

McCutcheon was never going to happen unless he was still unsigned in mid March and the Twins felt a need at that time.

[whosafraidofluigirussolo]

Signings of players of this profile—righty-hitting veteran outfielder, likely to be a platoon guy or part-time starter—are picking up. I'm seeing Tommy Pham to the Mets, Adam Duvall to the Red Sox, and Brian Anderson (part-time corner OF) all reported today.

With all these guys going off the board, it seems like the Twins haven't been all that invested in adding a player for that role.