Pittsburgh Pirates: Coming Full Circle, Andrew McCutchen and Bryan Reynolds

It was quite controversial when the Pittsburgh Pirates traded away Andrew McCutchen. However, he is back and playing alongside one of the players he was traded for.

Kyle Crick and Bryan Reynolds were the players that came back in the Andrew McCutchen trade with the San Fransisco Giants. Many were disappointed by the minimal return, but things have really worked out for the Pittsburgh Pirates. While Kyle Crick never amounted to much, but Bryan Reynolds has turned into an All-Star caliber player. Now the two will share the same outfield grass as the 2023 season gets closer to getting underway.

Andrew McCutchen was one of the most talented and beloved players in Pittsburgh Pirates history. He was drafted by the Pirates in the first round of the 2005 MLB Draft and made his debut in 2009. Of course, he finished runner-up for National League Rookie of the Year to Chris Coghlan.

During his tenure with the Pirates, from 2009 to 2017, McCutchen established himself as one of the best all-around players in baseball. He won the National League MVP award in 2013, led the Pirates to three consecutive playoff appearances from 2013 to 2015, and was named to the All-Star team five times.

Off the field, McCutchen was also a fan favorite for his engaging personality and community involvement. He was widely respected for his charitable work and was named the 2015 Marvin Miller Man of the Year for his efforts to make a positive impact in the lives of others.

In 2018, McCutchen was traded to the San Francisco Giants after the Pirates decided to rebuild. Despite playing for other teams in the years since he remains a beloved figure in Pittsburgh. No one would have expected to see him back with the Pirates, but here we are.

Reynolds of course has become the most talked about veteran around the Pittsburgh Pirates this past offseason. Reynolds played college baseball for Vanderbilt University and was selected by the San Francisco Giants in the second round of the 2016 MLB Draft. He played in the Giants minor league system for two years before being traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2018.

Reynolds made his major league debut with the Pirates in April 2019, and he quickly established himself as one of the team's best players. He finished his rookie season with a .314 batting average, 16 home runs, and 68 runs batted in (RBIs) in 134 games. He finished fourth in National League Rookie of the Year voting and was named the Pirates' team MVP.

Now the two will get to play together. Not many trades work out the way that this deal did. There are plenty of examples of when the Pittsburgh Pirates had traded away talented players and have had nothing substantial to show for it. Reynolds changed that narrative and quickly made people feel better about the deal. It will be really cool to see both of them playing together at PNC Park.