What scout says about Yankees getting Andrew McCutchen

An AL scout who has seen Andrew McCutchen extensively with the Giants breaks down what the Yankees and general manager Brian Cashman can expect from the former NL MVP.

NEW YORK — In Andrew McCutchen, the Yankees are at the very least getting a clear upgrade in what they already have in right field, and someone whose production could play up thanks to an escape from San Francisco, an American League scout told NJ Advance Media on Friday afternoon.

The scout, who has seen McCutchen extensively, spoke on the condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to speak publicly.

With Friday’s waiver trade deadline looming, Yankees struck a deal with the Giants late Thursday night to add McCutchen, the 2013 National League MVP and a five-time All-Star, and cash for a pair of prospects.

How Yankees’ lineup should look with McCutchen

The Giants received Triple-A shortstop Abitial Avelino and rookie-ball pitcher Juan De Paula.

When it comes to McCutchen, the bad, the scout said, is that the 31-year-old “certainly isn’t the player he was a few years ago.”

But that’s about it, the scout said.

McCutchen has “quality makeup” and he “won’t be intimidated by the surroundings” of playing in the Bronx while bringing skills that are “average to slightly above average,” the scout said.

The scout added that the spacious AT&T Park, the home of the Giants, is a “brutal” place to hit and play right field — McCutchen’s primary position in 2018 and where the Yankees will need him, at least until Aaron Judge (fractured right wrist) returns to the disabled list — though there’s a question whether, at this point, if the 26-year-old star returns at all.

Judge has blown past the three-week expected timetable for his return and still hasn’t swung a bat — the clearest sign of he’d be near a return.

McCutchen also maintained a high effort level despite playing for the Giants, who are among the league’s low-energy teams, the scout said.

McCutchen shouldn’t have much of a problem performing better than right-field fill-ins Shane Robinson, a good defender and terrible hitter, and Neil Walker, a good hitter but out-of-place outfielder. Walker is a career infielder.

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