Pirates indicate McCutchen will be on 2017 opening day roster

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen appears to be staying with the team for the 2017 season. (Gene J. Puskar/AP)

It appears that Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen won’t be traded this off-season.

As reported by Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, team president Frank Coonelly said he expects McCutchen will be in the lineup when the team opens the 2017 season.

“We are really excited to have Andrew with us in 2017 and, hopefully, for a long time beyond 2017,” Coonelly said.

McCutchen and other players were in Pittsburgh Saturday for the team’s fan fest, giving reporters a chance to talk to him about the recent trade rumours. The 2013 NL MVP’s name had been tied to a trade with the Washington Nationals, who opted instead to acquire Adam Eaton from the Chicago White Sox.

McCutchen is coming off the worst offensive season of his career, where he hit just .256 with a .766 OPS and 0.7 WAR, per Fangraphs.

In the four seasons before 2016, the 30-year-old posted a cumulative .313 batting average and .926 OPS. He is due $14 million in 2017, the final guaranteed year of his contract, before a $14.75 million team option in 2018 ($1 million buyout).

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