Yankees on verge of trading for Andrew McCutchen | What it means

Andrew McCutchen will play a lot of right field for the Yankees if they finalize a trade with the San Francisco Giants.

NEW YORK — Another trade deadline is approaching and once again the Yankees going after a big gun.

With right fielder Aaron Judge’s broken wrist healing slower than anticipated, the Yankees have been looking for outfield help and they’re reportedly close to acquiring five-time All-Star Andrew McCutchen from the San Francisco Giants.

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According to a tweet by Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY Sports at 11:10 p.m. Thursday, the Yankees and Giants “say they have not finalized the McCutchen trade at this moment.”

The deal is expected to be finalized on Friday, which is Aug. 31 … another trade deadline day in the majors. In this one, all players must first clear waivers. Also, players changing teams must be on their new teams by Aug. 31 to be eligible for postseason play. 

News of McCutchen being very close to being traded broke just after the blew a two-run ninth inning lead and lost 8-7 to the Detroit Tigers at Yankee Stadium.

McCutchen is making $14.7 million this season, but he’s owed just $2.45 in September.

It’s unknown if the Giants are including any money in the deal to the Yankees, who are under ownership orders to stay under baseball’s $197 million luxury tax threshold this season and were believed to have just $4 million or so to spend after adding three veteran pitchers before the July 31 trade deadline, starters trading J.A. Happ and Lance Lynn plus reliever Zach Britton.

McCutchen, 31, likely would start a lot of games in right field with the Yankees until Judge returns, and at this point it’s looking like late September might be the best bet. 

Of late, the Yankees have had to go with light-hitting Shane Robinson and infielder Neil Walker a lot in right field because Giancarlo Stanton has been nursing a tight hamstring and mostly being used at DH, his usual role when Judge is healthy.

In his first season with the Giants, McCutchen is hitting .255 with 15 homers and 55 RBI in 130 games.

The face of the franchise during most of his long run with the Pirates, McCutchen’s best season was 2013 when he was voted National League MVP after hitting .317 with 21 homers, 84 RBIs and leading Pittsburgh to his first postseason berth (and winning season) since 1992.

Randy Miller may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @RandyJMiller. Find NJ.com on Facebook.