Kiel Maddox-USA TODAY Sports
It finally happened. After months of speculation over whether the Giants would trade outfielder Andrew McCutchen – whose contract expires at the end of the season, the Giants finally made the move to trade McCutchen to the New York Yankees today, according to ESPN’s Buster Olney.
Yankees get McCutchen: source
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) August 31, 2018
The Giants had reportedly been shopping McCutchen without luck until now. According to Bob Nightengale, the trade has not officially been finalized and an announcement of the trade is unlikely to come from either the Giants or Yankees.
The #Yankees and #SFGiants say they have not finalized the McCutchen trade at this moment, and don’t anticipate an announcement tonight. But obviously deep in talks.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) August 31, 2018
When the trade is finalized, the Giants will reportedly receive two prospects from the Yankees, one of which will be Abiatal Avelino, according to Joel Sherman.
I hear if the trade is completed #yankees will be sending two prospects to the #sfgiants for McCutchen and that Abital Avelino is one of them.
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) August 31, 2018
The Giants acquired the longtime Pirates outfielder this January in a trade that sent pitcher Kyle Crick and outfield prospect Bryan Reynolds to the Pirates. McCutchen will leave the Giants as their home run leader at 15 on the season, but he will rank nowhere near the top of the Yankees’ most powerful hitters.
Andrew McCutchen leaves the 2018 Giants as their team leader in homers with 15, which would rank seventh on his new Yankees squad.
— Jon Tayler, Smiling Politely (@JATayler) August 31, 2018
UPDATE: The Giants received infielder Abiatal Avelino and right-handed pitcher Juan De Paula in exchange for McCutchen and cash considerations.