Phillies Reportedly Interested in Giants OF Andrew McCutchen

For the first time in seven years, the Phillies will be buying at today's 4 p.m. MLB trade deadline and they reportedly have their eyes on a former National League MVP.

Per MLB.com's Jon Paul Morosi, the Phillies are one of three teams that have "varying levels of interest" in acquiring rightfielder Andrew McCutchen from the Giants.

Now before we go forward, it should be noted that McCutchen isn't the player he was when he won the NL MVP in 2013 and made five straight All-Star teams from 2011-2015 with the Pirates, but that doesn't mean he wouldn't help the Phillies.

The Phillies are in the market for outfield and bench help and while Nick Williams' emergence has changed their deadline needs, McCutchen would provide manager Gabe Kapler a capable outfield platoon option and a bench bat.

McCutchen has played right field with the Giants but can still pass as a centerfielder, where he's spent the majority of his career. He'd be an instant upgrade as the team's fourth outfielder and could spell Odubel Herrera in center and Williams in right.

The 31-year-old is hitting .258/.352/.407 with 10 home runs, 24 doubles and 43 RBI in 104 games this season with the Giants. He's also hitting .299 against left-handed pitching since the start of 2017.

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Trading for McCutchen would serve a similar purpose as a move for Orioles outfielder Adam Jones or Blue Jays OF Curtis Granderson, but there is one major difference between McCutchen and the others.

McCutchen is owed approximately $5 million over the final two months of the season, so San Francisco simply could be looking for salary relief since it is a .500 team and its ace, Johnny Cueto, may need Tommy John surgery.

The Phils reportedly had an offer to acquire Jones from Baltimore but the veteran wasn't ready to wave his no-trade rights. McCutchen does not have those rights.

As for what the Phillies would have to pay to acquire McCutchen, one has to think the Giants' asking price cannot be much unless they're willing to pick up some of the outfielder's salary.

And since he's not the same player he was a few years ago, the return on him probably wouldn't hurt the Phils' farm system too much.

Stay tuned as the deadline is only a few hours away.

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