Top 10 Pittsburgh Pirates Players Of The 2010s: Numbers 1-5

As we finish off our list of the 10 best Pittsburgh Pirates players of the 2010s today we take a look at the top 5 Pirate players of the decade

As we embark on a new decade, the writers here at Rum Bunter decided to vote on the top 10 Pittsburgh Pirates players of the 2010s. This was a fun project for the writers to tackle and it led to reminiscing on some great memories. Unfortunately, it also brought up and led to discussion about some not so great memories.

As a reminder, or in case you did not read part one, here is how the voting worked. Each player that received votes received a point total depending on what number they were voted. For example, a 1st place voted awarded a player 10 points. A 2nd place vote award a player 9 points, and so on down the line.

You can read which voters wound up occupying spots 6-10 here. If you have any disagreements with our lists, make sure to leave them in the comments below. All discussion is welcome!

Now it’s time to jump into the top 5 Pirate players of the 2010s, and it kicks off with one of the most popular Pirate players of all-time.

#5 – Starting pitcher A.J. Burnett

Prior to the start of the 2012 season Neal Huntington made what in my opinion was his best trade as general manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates. He traded two minor league players, one of which never reached the MLB level, to the New York Yankees in exchange for starting pitcher A.J. Burnett.

At the time the trade received mix reviews as Burnett was coming off a poor season and a tumultuous ending to his career in the Bronx. Well, it quickly became apparent that all Burnett needed was a change in scenery.

The second he arrived in Pittsburgh Burnett started to work toward changing the clubhouse atmosphere. Losing was no longer going to be accepted in Pittsburgh, not with Burnett around. Even though the team went 79-83 during his first season in the Burgh, they contended for a postseason spot into September and then won 95 games on their way to a postseason berth in 2013.

In his first season with the Bucs Burnett posted a 3.51 ERA, 3.52 FIP, 21.2% strikeout rate, and a 3.5 fWAR in 202.1 innings pitched across 31 starts. Year two saw the numbers improve as he posted a 3.30 ERA, 2.80 FIP, 27.6% strikeout rate, and a 4.0 fWAR in 30 starts.

After pitching for the Phillies in 2014, Burnett returned to Pittsburgh for his swan song in 2015. In the final season of his MLB career, Burnett helped anchor a Pirate rotation that led the team to 98 victories. Despite spending time on the injured list, Burnett posted a 3.18 ERA, 3.36 FIP and a 2.6 fWAR in 26 starts. He also made his first and only career All-Star Game appearance in 2015.

Batman was one of the best starting pitchers in Pirate history, and was also one of the most popular players in franchise history. He helped pitch two teams to the postseason and will never again have to pay for anything in the city if Pittsburgh. He helped change the culture in Pittsburgh, and to this day would win mayor by a landslide in the Burgh.

#3 – Starting pitcher Gerrit Cole

While the last two players on the list were acquired via two of Huntington’s best trades, the next guy on the list was lost in what was undoubtedly one of his two worst trades. That player is starting pitcher Gerrit Cole.

The former #1 overall pick never reached his full potential in Pittsburgh, largely due to reasons that were not his fault, but he was still an excellent pitcher for the Pirates. Starting with his MLB debut against the Giants in June of 2013, a game that is among the best Pirate moments of the decade, he took the mound with an attitude and an intimidation factor. Two things that could be contributed at least somewhat to the influence of Burnett on the pitching staff.

Now the owner of the richest pitching contract in baseball history, Cole started 127 games in 5 seasons as a Pirate. He posted a 3.50 ERA, 3.27 FIP, and a 15.4 fWAR. His 15.4 fWAR was good for 10th best among NL starting pitchers during this 5 year stretch. Cole was NL All-Star in 2015, the same year in which he finished in the top-5 in NL Cy Young Award voting.

In the 2013 postseason he pitched the Pirates to victory in Game 2 of the NLDS, and then was tabbed the starter for the decisive Game 5 against the Cardinals. Cole allowed just 2 runs in 5 innings of work, and 2 runs that never should have scored had balls and strikes been properly called on Jon Jay in the 2nd inning, and gave the Bucs a chance to advance to the NLCS. Unfortunately, many fans will remember him for struggling in the 2015 NL Wild Card Game loss against the Cubs.

Since leaving Pittsburgh Cole has become a bonafide ace. He is now one of the best, if not the best starting pitcher in all of baseball. However, he is still one of the best Pirates of the 2010s.

#2 – Outfielder Starling Marte

Checking in as the second best Pirate of the decade is only current Pirate on the list – outfielder Starling Marte.

Marte made his MLB debut in July of 2012 in Houston against the Astros. On the first pitch he ever faced at the MLB level Marte hit a home run off of future Cy Young winner Dallas Keuchel. This proved to be the start of a great MLB career.

Marte has spent the last eight seasons as a Pirate, winning two Gold Glove Awards and being named an All-Star in 2016. In his career he has slashed .287/.341/.452 with a 116 wRC+, 239 stolen bases and a 24.1 fWAR in 953 career games.

Since the start of the 2013 season, his first full MLB season, Marte ranks 15th among all NL position players with a 23.8 fWAR. While he often times receives a lot of unfair criticism from fans and the media alike, Marte has solidified himself as one of the best two-way players in the NL and one of the best in franchise history.

Odds are that Marte has played his last game as a Pirate. He remains under team control through 2021, but is likely going to be traded before Opening Day. If that does indeed happen, Marte should be remembered as one of the best Pirate players of the 2010s.

#1 – Outfielder Andrew McCutchen

Was there ever any doubt? The best Pirate player of the decade, and one of the five best players in franchise history, is Andrew McCutchen. Hell, he was a unanimous number 1 receiving every 1st place vote. If not for knee issues, odds are, McCutchen would find himself with a bust in Cooperstown one day.

The 2013 National League MVP was a five-time All-Star, four-time Silver Slugger Award winner, he won a Gold Glove in 2012, and the Roberto Clemente Award in 2015. Topping his 2013 MVP season, he had one of the best seasons in Pirate history in 2014 when he posted a 168 wRC+.

Cutch was not just a great baseball player, he was the face of the franchise. He was the face of the Pirates turnaround and rise back to prominence. He was also one of us. He married a local girl, he embraced and loved Pittsburgh every bit as much as the city loved him, he still lives here in the off-season, and he named his first son Steel. There are few players in franchise history more popular and beloved than Cutch.

From 2010-2017, McCutchen’s 42.3 fWAR was behind just Buster Posey and Joey Votto among NL position players. In nine seasons as a Pirate (2009-2017) he slashed .291/.379/.487 with a 137 wRC+. His 203 home runs ranks 4th all-time in Pirate history.

There may never again be a professional athlete I love as much as I did Cutch. Everything he did for the Pirates and for Pittsburgh may never again be matched. Combine this with being one of the best players in baseball from the last decade, and he is the best Pirate player of the 2010s.