SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Andrew McCutchen figures San Francisco's AT&T Park outfield is so big, playing right field will make him feel like a center fielder all over again.Running catches, ricochets off the wall, tricky bounces and all.And if he can save his legs a little bit from the action in center, he might just steal a few more bases.The Giants acquired the popular McCutchen from Pittsburgh on Monday, and he will be their new starting right fielder. Manager Bruce Bochy quickly spoke to incumbent Hunter Pence about making the move from right to left."I'm looking forward to right field, that's one place people can't pick on me saying my defensive metrics are so bad," McCutchen said during a conference call Tuesday. "I'm looking forward to being able to play right field. I know there's a lot of room out there to run. It's definitely going to be a reminder almost like playing center. I've gotten to see Hunter Pence patrol out there quite a bit so I'll be able to pick his brain quite a... [More]

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Andrew McCutchen didn't run from the challenge in Pittsburgh, he embraced it. A rising star on a franchise mired in two decades of losing, McCutchen bet on the Pirates in the spring of 2012 by signing a six-year contract, gambling that he could become one of the game's best while helping the city reconnect with a team it had long since abandoned.It paid off for all involved.The dynamic, charismatic outfielder became an MVP while ushering in a renaissance. Five All-Star games. Three playoff appearances. A ballpark packed with fans wearing his No. 22. Everything McCutchen and owner Bob Nutting talked about on that sun-dappled Florida day six years ago came to fruition.And on Monday, it all came to an end.Facing the certainty that they couldn't re-sign McCutchen when he hit free agency next winter, the Pirates traded him to the San Francisco Giants in exchange for right-hander Kyle Crick, minor league outfielder Bryan Reynolds and $500,000 in international signing bonus allocation.... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The Giants found the outfielder they were looking for this winter, acquiring Andrew McCutchen from Pittsburgh on Monday to fill a key void.San Francisco parted with right-hander Kyle Crick, minor league outfielder Bryan Reynolds and $500,000 in international signing bonus allocation. The Pirates also sent $2.5 million to the Giants to cover part of McCutchen's $14.75 million salary."It's no secret that we were looking to further add run production to our lineup," said Brian Sabean, Giants executive vice president of baseball operations. "Anytime you have the opportunity to bring aboard someone with such a track record, you have to jump on it."The 31-year-old McCutchen, a former NL MVP and long the face of the Pirates' franchise, became the second star jettisoned by Pittsburgh in three days. Ace Gerrit Cole was traded to Houston on Saturday."Pittsburgh.My Home.My Fans.My City," McCutchen tweeted . "You will 4ever be in my heart."McCutchen added: "Now...I'm a Giant! Ive... [More]

Crick's last three appearances have all come out of the bullpen for Double-A Richmond after making 11 starts to open the season.

Crick's has entered in the seventh and eighth inning during July, a move that has not helped his control, having walked six batters in 2.1 innings. He now has 46 free passes and 44 strikeouts over 44.1 innings, and while some have viewed him as a potential closer down the line, Crick's prospect status, both in real life and fantasy, are dropping rapidly due to his erratic offerings.

Crick has a 1.88 ERA, 38 strikeouts and 32 walks in 38.1 innings with Double-A Richmond.

He missed time briefly with a sore wrist earlier this year, but is back to throwing around four innings per start. To be fair, 12 of those 32 walks came in his last 8.1 innings, but the problems with Crick's command persist. Nobody doubts his stuff, but if he has no idea where it's going, it won't matter as a starter in the big leagues. That said, Crick could be a pretty dominant reliever if the Giants chose to go that route. It is not yet time to give up on the 22-year-old righty, but he is not the best or even the second best pitching prospect in the Giants' system anymore.