Yankees Rumors: Interest in Andrew McCutchen is real

Hours after sending Adam Warren to the Mariners and acquiring Lance Lynn from the Twins, the Yankees are still in the hunt for a fourth outfielder. Andrew McCutchen of the Giants is the latest name making the rounds.

With six hours remaining before the non-waiver trade deadline, the Yankees are still looking to shore up their bench.

Rumors of a reunion with Curtis Granderson began swirling on Monday, followed by tepid interest in Cameron Maybin of the Marlins. Although Maybin can play all three outfield positions and has excellent speed, his bat is genuinely non-threatening.

In 251 at-bats this season, the 12-year veteran, who has played for six different organizations (Marlins twice) is slashing .251/.338/.343 with 12 doubles, eight home runs, and 20 RBI.

A somewhat surprising recent addition to the trade market is four-time Silver Slugger Andrew McCutchen. With the Giants on the cusp of Postseason contention (currently 5.5 games back in the NL West), the five-time All-Star and four-time playoff participant would come in handy down the stretch for the Yankees.

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With his contract set the expire at the conclusion of this season and the Giants in need of an infusion of youth, now would be the opportune time to cash in on Cutch, even though Giants reporter Andrew Baggarly believes the club is more likely to deal him once they officially fall out of the playoff race in August.

Waiting until next month to trade McCutchen would then require him to pass through waivers, which is always a tricky game of cat and mouse.

According to Jon Morosi, the Yankees are one of three clubs potentially interested in acquiring the former 2013 NL MVP — the Indians and Phillies being the others.

Though he may have lost a step, hence his move to right field, Cutch is still an excellent outfielder because of his good first step and solid throwing arm.

With Aaron Judge out at least two more weeks, Cutch could spell Giancarlo Stanton in right and then do the same for veteran Brett Gardner in left as we inch closer to October.

At 31, McCutchen’s bat isn’t quite as potent as his career stats suggest: .288/.377/.481 with an average of 20 homers and 86 RBI. However, his 2018 line of .258/.352/.407 with 10 dingers and 43 RBIs still offers the Yankees plenty of upside for a reliable fourth outfielder and clubhouse leader that shouldn’t cost much more than a lower level prospect or two.

Owed around $7 million for the remainder of the season, the Yanks would need the Giants to pay a chunk of Cutch’s salary to stay under the luxury tax threshold.

As we’ve recently witnessed, general manager Brian Cashman is doing a cleanse of the 40-man roster, so he shouldn’t be shy about acquiring a player of Cutch’s pedigree now.