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Amid Cutch rumors, recall 10 MVP deals
- Updated: December 2, 2016
Trade rumors swirling around Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen appear to be heating up, with the 2016 Winter Meetings set for next week.
Back in 2013, McCutchen won the National League MVP Award when he led the Pirates to their first postseason appearance since 1992. He followed that up with two more highly productive All-Star seasons, finishing third and fifth in the MVP voting as the Bucs made two more trips to the NL Wild Card Game.
But McCutchen’s numbers declined across the board in 2016, he turned 30 after the season and his contract has only one more guaranteed year (plus a team option for ’18). Moving their popular star player would be a difficult pill to swallow for the small-market Pirates — but also a chance to add young talent before McCutchen potentially leaves as a free agent.
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If Pittsburgh does take the plunge on such a deal, it certainly wouldn’t be the first team to trade a recent MVP winner, though few have done so of late. Here are 10 notable examples, each of whom went no more than four seasons between winning the award and packing his bags.
Alex Rodriguez American League MVP in 2003 for RangersTraded to Yankees on Feb. 16, 2004Why the trade happened: Three years after signing Rodriguez to a record-smashing 10-year, $252 million contract, the Rangers got salary relief at the expense of a player who already had produced 25.5 wins above replacement (WAR) for them and was still only 28. The biggest piece they got in return, Alfonso Soriano, provided two good but unspectacular seasons before he was dealt to Washington.After the trade: Before opting out of his contract and re-signing with the Yankees at the end of 2007, A-Rod won two more MVP Awards and twice led the AL in homers and OPS.
Ken Griffey Jr.AL MVP in 1997 for MarinersTraded to Reds on Feb. 10, 2000Why the trade happened: Seattle was in a tough spot, as Griffey had requested a trade and had just one season left on his contract. Still, the club did well with a four-player package highlighted by fellow center fielder Mike Cameron, whose 18.3 WAR over four years with the Mariners more than doubled Griffey’s output during the same stretch.After the trade: Griffey, who signed a new deal after the trade, was terrific in 2000 but averaged only 79 games over the following four seasons as injuries plagued him. Cincinnati never made the postseason in his nine years there.
Rickey HendersonAL MVP in 1990 for A’sTraded to Blue Jays on July 31, 1993Why the trade happened: A pending free agent on an Oakland club headed for 94 losses, Henderson was moved at the Trade Deadline. The A’s got a pair of prospects, including 21-year-old right-hander Steve Karsay, a first-round pick who went on to make 36 starts for the …
