It seems Pittsburg wants SP desperately and particularly prefer groundballers. 88 starters this year had 120+IP with GB% over 40% and Felix, Paxton, Walker and Kuma (descending order) were all there. Karns also fits that mold without the innings. Miranda did not this year but who knows what he'll become when he gels?
I don't think Marte currently fits their "run prevention" preference, there's good defensive SS free agents that shouldn't cost much anyway and the only way for us to replace him with a clear improvement is via another trade. Or maybe international signing, hard to keep up on those available. If McCutchen is acquired are there enough bullets you want to use left to improve SS?
I'm pretty confident Vogue's here to stay for awhile at least. I get the idea that his spot could be filled, much like Jose Lopez' spot was filled by Chone Figgins. Or Adam Jones to Jeremy Reed? 'Bach, to me, is an answer to where you find a MOTO bat if one of the current ones decline. He hits from the wrong side to replace Cruz but in a couple years he could be making it easier to move Cano down in the lineup. Dipoto wants more hitters that draw walks without striking out much, not less.
2 years of McCutchen at his mid bounceback I think is worth paying for. Karns, 'Bach and Marte seem too much to me. Last year with an additional remaining and no down year that might not have been enough. I don't think paying for 14 WAR is even equitable.
How many deals have ever been done with 3 MLB ready young controllable players for 1 player?