In Thursday’s “First Call,” a Steelers wideout has some fun at the Dawg Pound’s expense.

A former Steeler signs with the Chicago Bears as the two teams prepare to play each other Monday night.

Andrew McCutchen reacts to being released by the Phillies. And a few other former Pirates may be hot commodities on the off-season trade circuit.

Clapped by Claypool

Steelers wide receiver Chase Claypool was already disliked by football fans in Cleveland after his “the Browns are gonna get clapped next week” quote from the playoffs.

After Sunday’s win over Cleveland, he is fanning the flames. Claypool posted this photo of himself mocking the “Dawg Pound.” It’s a photo that we can’t post because of the middle finger extended back toward Claypool.

It had the caption: “All bark, no bite.”

This one seems to resonate a little bit better than calling out a team that just beat you 48-37. In your stadium. In the playoffs.

Claypool only had four catches for 45 yards Sunday. But we’ve already established that his threshold for tash talk is fairly low.

Calling Cassius

It’s not uncommon for a team to sign a free agent just before they play his former club.

Such is the case for the Chicago Bears as they have just inked former Steelers outside linebacker Cassius Marsh. Aside from seeking a little intel about the Steelers, Marsh may serve a practical purpose since star pass rusher Khalil Mack is suffering from a foot injury.

However, the franchise also waived reserve rookie outside linebacker Sam Kamara. Bringing Marsh up from the practice squad as a reserve for this week’s game may be a difficult task for a player who just signed.

Also, the team cut running back Chris Thompson from the practice squad in the process.

As Bear Digest of Fan Nation suggested, “The moves could both signify something about their health for Monday’s game — that Mack might be healthy enough to play this week despite a foot injury or running back David Montgomery is now able to come off injured reserve after four games there with a knee injury.”

Next chapter

The Philadelphia Phillies declined their club option for next season on outfielder Andrew McCutchen.

The former Pirate will get a $3 million buyout instead of a $15 million salary. He hit .237 with 47 homers and 143 RBIs in three seasons in Philadelphia.

The former National League MVP is now 35 years old. The Phillies were his third team since being traded from Pittsburgh to the San Francisco Giants before the 2018 season.

But McCutchen is insisting that he still has more years left in Major League Baseball.

— Andrew McCutchen (@TheCUTCH22) November 3, 2021

In 144 games this season, McCutchen hit .222 with 27 homers and 80 RBIs. The five-time All-Star with the Pirates will become a free agent.

On the move again?

McCutchen may not be the only ex-Pirate on the move.

WEEI.com’s Rob Bradford came up with a list of the top 10 Major League players who may be traded this offseason. Two of them are former Pirates All-Stars: Adam Frazier and Josh Bell.

Of Frazier, Bradford said, “As the Padres look to re-tool a roster that went 26-43 after the All-Star Break, he’s probably going to cost too much for their liking.”

Frazier is projected to make $7.2 million in his third and final year of arbitration eligibility. The second baseman only hit .267 in 57 games with San Diego after hitting .324 with the Pirates before being shipped off to Southern California.

Regarding Bell, Bradford wrote, “If the DH becomes universal in 2022, it would hardly be surprising if the Nationals get calls from contending teams interested in using Bell as their DH and/or first baseman.”

Bell posted an .887 OPS after the All-Star Break in 2021, finishing the season with 27 home runs and 88 RBIs.

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