Yankees News: Andrew McCutchen Trade Gives New York Outfield Depth After Aaron Judge Injury

The New York Yankees completed a trade just hours before Friday night’s waiver deadline, acquiring Andrew McCutchen from the San Francisco Giants in exchange for two minor-leaguers. The deal provides the team with some much-needed outfield depth as they head into the final month of the 2018 MLB regular season and likely the playoffs.

New York has one of the American League’s best outfields when they are at full strength. That hasn’t been the case for most of the second half since Aaron Judge has missed more than a month with a wrist injury. The initial timeline of a return for the reigning AL MVP runner-up proved to be nowhere near accurate, and it’ll be at least a few more weeks before the Yankees’ slugger is back in the lineup.

The team’s offensive numbers have taken a significant hit with Judge on the disabled list, and New York is all but officially out of the AL East race. Judge was hitting .285/.398/.548 before getting hurt.

McCutchen, 31, was once an MVP-caliber outfielder like Judge. He won the award for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2013 in the middle of five consecutive All-Star seasons. McCutchen totaled no fewer than 21 home runs and 83 RBI in each year from 2011-2017, posting an OPS north of .900 three times and only failing to have at least a .820 OPS in 2016.

After being traded to the Giants in the offseason, McCutchen got off to a slow start with San Francisco. He batted .230 in April and didn’t hit one home run in the entire month of May. McCutchen is hitting .255/.357./415 in 130 games, having reached base at a .371 clip with a .794 OPS since the All-Star break.

McCutchen found himself in trade rumors before the July 31 deadline, but San Francisco held onto the outfielder in hopes of making a playoff push. The Giants entered Friday with a losing record and little reason to keep the veteran, who will be a free agent at the end of the season.

Even when (if?) Judge returns this season, McCutchen could be a valuable player for the Yankees. Left fielder Brett Gardner has been dreadful at the plate since the All-Star break with a .582 OPS. He’s hitting .198 in August.

The Yankees failed to trade for an outfielder over the last few weeks as general manager Brian Cashman cited high asking prices for players they were targeting. New York ended up trading San Francisco their 23rd and 26th ranked prospects, according to MLB.com.

McCutchen has hit .321/.441/.357 in eight career playoff games.