Mark Madden: If trading Andrew McCutchen makes sense for the Pirates, they should

Texas is reportedly interested in acquiring outfielder/DH Andrew McCutchen from the Pirates.

McCutchen, 36, signed with the Pirates as a free agent this past offseason. It was a much-ballyhooed return to Pittsburgh after leaving the Pirates via trade to San Francisco following the 2017 campaign.

Tears were shed, smiles plentiful. The 2013 National League MVP had come home.

McCutchen loves Pittsburgh and the Pirates. Pittsburgh and the Pirates love McCutchen. Trading him would negate the perceived sincerity of that.

But McCutchen is an accomplished pro athlete and a competitor. He’s never played in a World Series or league championship series. Texas leads the AL West.

If the Pirates can get decent return for McCutchen, they should. Regardless of what McCutchen wants. This is about what’s best for the franchise, not McCutchen’s feelings.

Remove emotion from both sides and the decision is obvious for both sides.

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After no playoff appearances since 2015 and no playoff series victories since 1979, how the heck can anybody still romanticize anything about the Pirates?

McCutchen is having a good year: His slash line is .278/.397/.435. McCutchen’s batting average is his best since 2017, his on-base percentage his top since 2015.

McCutchen has nine home runs, 47 walks. He’s on pace to walk 98 times, which would tie his career high.

When few others on your team can hit, you get walked a lot. Even at 36.

If the Pirates keep McCutchen, that’s OK. What’s the difference? There’s no real organizational intent to win. Trade McCutchen, keep McCutchen, the Pirates will still be rotten.

Cincinnati, like the Pirates, has struggled. Just not as long. Yet the Reds have quickly zipped by the Pirates, rebuilding much faster. After losing 100 games last year — same as the Pirates — the Reds currently lead the NL Central. Reds rookie Elly De La Cruz is a phenomenon.

The Reds have intent to win. Their ownership will spend when appropriate, not just in token fashion.

The Reds recently had a 12-game winning streak. Then again, perhaps that’s their equivalent to the Pirates’ fluky 20-8 start.

It’s been suggested that if the Pirates trade McCutchen, they could again sign him as a free agent when the subsequent offseason arrives.

That’s the one thing that would be stupid.

That would be bush, low rent. Which the Pirates are. But at least pretend.

If McCutchen goes, he should be gone for good. Be a baseball team, not some carny nostalgia act that just keeps hitting repeat.

That’s no disrespect to McCutchen. But getting stuck in that sort of revolving door would make him look dumb.

Anyway, McCutchen’s vaunted clubhouse leadership hasn’t stopped the Pirates from collapsing. You can’t motivate excrement.

It’s over a month before MLB’s Aug. 1 trade deadline. But McCutchen is playing well now. His value might be at its highest right now.

The Pirates are going nowhere. Maybe McCutchen should be going to Texas.