The Pirates traded for power-hitting second baseman Brandon Lowe and signed OK-hitting first baseman Ryan O’Hearn. But now have done nothing for a couple of weeks.

They must figure that first place in the NL Central is wrapped up.

It’s not.

I’m assuming the Pirates just missed on Kyle Tucker.

The Pirates have a long way to go before the tinkering they’ve done can be seen as more than token. The Pirates are a bit better. But not yet even a .500 team.

Meantime, debate surrounds the inconsequential future of club legend Andrew McCutchen.

McCutchen is 39. He has career earnings of $131 million. But he apparently still needs a job, campaigning thereof on X as regards his capabilities in the outfield:

“It is really funny how so many people say I can’t (key word) play defense. If it’s needed, I can not only do it, but do it like I’ve been out there all year.

“So, stop creating false narratives and take your wives or girlfriends out to dinner and get off the coattails of other men. That’s weird energy.”

I don’t have a wife or girlfriend, Alla Famiglia didn’t have a table available and you know what else is weird energy?

Begging for employment on social media.

But it’s tough to get work in MLB when you can’t (key word) run. Not like you used to.

McCutchen also complained on X about having to submit a urine sample to MLB’s drug testing when it wasn’t convenient. Talk about weird energy.

There’s a narrative among Bucco media that McCutchen should play as long as he wants, then get a job with the team for life.

McCutchen, as mentioned, is a club legend.

At kind of a Family Dollar level.

He’s the best player from a time when the Pirates made the playoffs, but never won a playoff series.

He got National League MVP in 2013.

But McCutchen had no home runs and no RBIs in eight playoff games with the Pirates.

He’s going to get a statue at PNC Park because somebody from his era has to. The unveiling will generate revenue. I bet the Pirates do a bobblehead of the statue.

But he’s not Roberto Clemente, Willie Stargell or Dave Parker. He’s not a top 10 Pirate of all-time. He’s not going to make baseball’s Hall of Fame.

The highlight of his tenure is Johnny Cueto dropping the ball.

That doesn’t exactly measure up to Bill Mazeroski’s walk-off home run in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series.

Like I said, McCutchen and his era are strictly Family Dollar.

As for giving McCutchen a new contract, his numbers were solid last season: His OPS of .700 was third on the team. So was his OBP of .333 and his home run total of 13. McCutchen led the Pirates with 67 walks.

As somebody on X said, “He’s a better option than some.”

That should be on McCutchen’s Hall of Fame plaque that he won’t ever get: “He was a better option than Jack Suwinski.”

There would be nothing wrong with re-upping McCutchen.

There would be nothing wrong with turning the page, either.

Turning the page is something Pittsburgh sports teams aren’t very good at.