June hasn’t been a great month for the Pirates or their franchise player, Andrew McCutchen.
While the Bucs stumbled to an 8-17 record for the month through Sunday, McCutchen’s hit .198 with a .258 on-base percentage and .326 slugging percentage. It’s helped fuel the previously unthinkable, trade rumors involving McCutchen, with the most popular rumors having the 2013 National League MVP destined for the Dodgers.
Perhaps McCutchen and the Pirates are just in a momentary rut. Players and teams go into and out of slumps all the time in baseball. A 37-39 team on June 27 can be a 92-70 squad and McCutchen an MVP candidate come October.