With Spring Training here, most big league teams have set their rosters, and will have the players battle it out in the Grapefruit and Cactus League.

The next step might be making that one trade in season to put their team over the top.

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With that in mind, ESPN's Buster Olney complied a list of players who could be available at the trade deadline this season, with Phillies left fielder Andrew McCutchen landing on that list.

The NL East is arguably the best division in baseball; all five teams are actually trying to win in 2021. Philadelphia has an enormous challenge. With David Dombrowski in his first year running the team's baseball operations, he is in good position politically to wave the white flag in July if the Phillies lag behind the Braves, Mets, Nationals and Marlins; after all, for the most part, this is not his team. It was built by someone else. With his plate discipline and experience, McCutchen, if healthy, would be attractive to contenders.

McCutchen is in the final year of his deal, which pays him $20 million this year and has a club option for 2022 with a $3 million dollar buyout.

In the shortened 2020 season, the 34-year old former MVP hit .254 with 10 home runs and 34 RBI in 57 games.

If the Phillies drop out of the race by the trade deadline, don't be surprised if Dave Dombroski pulls the trigger on a deal involving McCutchen.  The question is, will contending teams be interested in bringing him on board?

The first-half of the 2021 season will go a long way in answering that question.

Phillies Major Award Winners Since 1980

 

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