BRADENTON, Fla. — Andrew McCutchen wasn’t particularly pleased when manager Clint Hurdle phoned a few weeks back to inform the former center fielder he would now play right. It wasn’t an ask, McCutchen explained today before workouts at Pirate City, it was a demand.
McCutchen, at the tail end of an offseason filled with trade rumors, was told moving elite defender Starling Marte to center was in the team’s best interest. At first, he was bothered.
“It wasn’t something I was ready for or something I wanted to do,” McCutchen said. “But as I’m saying that, I’m talking about myself.