Go ahead. Try to find a scenario where the Pirates’ offseason plans don’t center around Andrew McCutchen.
Yeah, the Pirates face other questions as they prepare for the 2018 season after finishing with a losing record for the second year in a row. They need runs, and some power. A couple of contract options require their attention, and the struggle to acquire the paperwork to get their third baseman into the country continues.
But nothing will affect the team’s direction like their decision to retain or trade McCutchen. And as much as the decision is about asset management, it is also about money.