The Dodgers and Rays are among the teams with interest in free agent outfielder/designated hitter Andrew McCutchen, tweets ESPN’s Buster Olney. As Olney points out, McCutchen could very well topple a couple of career milestones in 2023, as he’s 52 hits shy of 2000 and 13 long balls away from the 300 mark.
McCutchen, 36, spent the 2022 season with the Brewers, for whom he slashed at a .237/.316/.384 pace through 580 trips to the plate. It was an uneven season for the 2013 NL MVP, as he stumbled out of the gates with a poor two-month stretch before catching fire in June and ultimately wilting again in the season’s final seven to eight weeks.
McCutchen’s run early in the summer at least showed that there’s still life in his bat — inconsistent as the production may be. The endpoints here are arbitrary, and any player can look better when focusing only on his hottest stretch of the season, but for a period of 262 plate appearances beginning on June 5, McCutchen mashed at a .288/.370/.498 pace, slugging 11 homers and 15 doubles along the way. Of course, it’s only fair to also point out that said hot streak was preceded by an absolutely frigid spell in which he collected just one hit in a span of 39 trips to the plate.
The peaks and valleys of McCutchen’s 2022 season resulted in a 98 wRC+ and 99 OPS+, suggesting that he was just barely shy of average at the plate for the season as a whole. Part of the downturn in production for McCutchen, who batted a combined .237/.343/.444 as a Phillie from 2019-21 (109 wRC+), was that his longstanding production against southpaws evaporated in 2022. McCutchen is career .300 hitter with a .936 OPS and 154 wRC+ against lefties, even including last year’s struggles, but this past season’s .221/.303/.434 slash when holding the platoon advantage was miles shy of his career standard.
On the defensive side of the coin, McCutchen played just 434 innings in the outfield, most coming in left — although the Brewers gave him 13 innings in center and 153 in right. Defensive Runs Saved (4), Ultimate Zone Rating (1.8) and Outs Above Average (0) all thought he was at least serviceable, if not a net positive in his limited work with the glove. However, McCutchen spent 82 games as Milwaukee’s designated hitter, too. It’s possible another team would view him as a viable option to log a larger workload in the outfield, but a return to his days of pllaying 1300-1400 innings in the outfield seems like a reach, given his age and recent usage.
In Los Angeles, McCutchen could give the Dodgers a right-handed complement to lefty-swinging 25-year-old James Outman, who had a huge season in the upper minors and also impressed in a tiny MLB debut (16 plate appearances). Tampa Bay is more set in the outfield but could still use McCutchen as a right-handed option off the bench, mixing him in for occasional work in the outfield corners and at designated hitter. It’s worth noting that McCutchen is a native of Fort Meade, Fla. and attended Fort Meade High School — about 75 miles from the Rays’ Tropicana Field.
McCutchen played the 2022 season on a one-year, $8.5MM contract, and it seems quite likely that he’ll be ticketed for another one-year deal wherever he lands — be it with the Dodgers, Rays or another team.
He’s the veteran outfielder many Pirates fans were hoping to sign before he retires
Please sign anywhere but Pittsburgh. He will want a bigger role than he’s capable of. In PNC he’d be a liability in both left and center and his arm is too weak to play right. Those days are long gone. Let it go.
He’d have most likely shared DH duties not played in the outfield
They can sign him for a $1 or something like a ceremonial thing. He can put on the jersey at a press conference and throw out the 1st pitch.
It would be awesome to see him back with the Pirates.
I don’t think they could afford it. Cutch is still producing so he’s probably going to get paid well this year. That’s money the Pirates can use for starting pitching, a catcher, and yet another first baseman.
@joe send him back to the star studded Yankees team! They are one Cutch away from the world series, get excited buddy! Imagine Donaldson and Cutch hitting back to back in that lineup, scary!
Surely they CAN afford it, but Nutting….
Cincinnati could use him. They could actually use a whole outfield.
Dream scenario would be something like Conforto, Bellinger, Myers but with this management and payroll limitations, that is definitely dreaming.
The Guardians are “in” on McCutcheon as he could get everyday at bats at the expense of Myles Straw, who had an abysmal year at the plate. The Guards envision McCutcheon as a 7 inning player before subbing Straw for late inning defense.
Dream? More like nightmare
Why?
Better option than Gallo at this point.
Gallo returns to Texas to try to find himself and that’s the only place he will have success with some players its all in the head
I wouldn’t be surprised if the Pirates didn’t go for Gallo if they salary dumpwd Reynolds.
Pretty crazy how him and Christian Yelich had such a dramatic drop in production BEFORE they hit 30.
I would mind trading for him … Seems like a buy low candidate. Can’t be any worse than Belly
Belly was due around $18 million for one year. Yelich is due $176 million until 2029. I love Yelich, but there is no way I would take on his contract. Even if someone paid half of it, I wouldn’t do it.
There isn’t much upside to him though. At least Bellinger has speed, and great defense.
Seems like LA Doyers are going to reset their payroll with thier biggest aquisition is Miller …..
Yup. Been saying this for a month now and we’re seeing it play out. Probably Miller won’t be their biggest signing but they seem to be out on every impact player.
Definitely a redemption season for him, best of luck to one of the best Pirate Player.
The sun has set on Andrew.
No Dodgers don’t sign him! The Dodgers need speed on the bases, and hitters.
He actually still runs well.
Good depth option for Tampa Bay, they would use him effectively.
If Tampa bay spends more than 3 million he will be more than depth.
Good point.
Too bad washed up players don’t end their careers descending back through the minors like in days of yore.
The folks in Kodak, Tennessee would mke Andrew a fan favorite, baby!!
Cutch is still a quality big league player. Should be more than the Rays and Dodgers in on him.
Agreed. I’d like to see him in Seattle as a platoon outfielder DH.
Lot’s of “no’s” from Dodger commenters, but Cutch would seem to fill the Utley/Albert void of past-prime vets who add their intangible influencing presence. Oh, and contributing here and there.
Well, here’s another NO!
…and here’s a “Yes”.
Whatever
Wish this headline said “Longoria” instead 🙁
Amen!
Seems like just yesterday that McCutchen was pillaging the donuts at the ESPN meeting. That was back before ESPN got politically left and woke.
Your mind is whacked if you think ESPN is “politically left.” Then again, you probably think Fox is “fair and balanced.”
Your mind is whacked if you think ESPN is not. Look up the Sage Steele leaving ESPN story. You’re welcome.
southernlion as a screen name and your use of “woke” is all I need to know about your perspective. Rex Ryan, Bruschi, the Hasslebecks, Ponder, Ninkowski, Aikman, Buck, Bilas, Vitale, Fowler, the Mannings, Herbstreit, Corso, and McAfee just to name a few for a start are NOT liberals or “left.” Ever ask yourself how or why some of those names above got or have their jobs? The network should be called SECSPN or NFLSPN since that conference and the NFL overwhelmingly dominate most of the telecast hours. You obviously don’t remember when Sportscenter actually use to show scores and highlights from the big four major sports in North America during the hour. Instead of the current 20-22 minutes of commercials, 30-33 minutes of football, and 5-10 minutes of other sports. With 75% of that time being some “expert/analyst” offering their “opinion/insight.” Then maybe 25% of that time actually shows the results and highlights of what happened in the game. Believe it or not, once upon a time football wasn’t 24/7 365 year-round sports coverage. Hell, ESPN spent 15 minutes this AM on the death of Mike Leach!
They won’t let you know this, but the like is from me. Keep commenting, I’ll do the same and keep reading. My best to you.
I stopped watching ESPN since probably before you were born. I use the word probably because I can’t know for sure and frankly it’s not that important to me. I look forward to your future comments.
By the way, my screen name is a loose interpretation of my actual given name. Sorry I “woke” you up. Go back to sleep…..
Sage Steele? Another anti-vaxxer! Seriously? Have you looked up any of her past comments? Perhaps you should look into her corrosive comments during an interview. Not only is she misinformed. Then like most typical cons claimed to be the victim. Sounds like she was trying to get fired from ESPN.
Simply because one is in the MINORITY and supports misinformation, lies, or an unpopular opinion. That doesn’t mean their freedom of speech rights were violated, they’re the victim and everyone who disagrees with them is “left, liberal, or woke.” That’s typical FOXspeak.
I’m moving on from this, and suggest you do the same. Respectfully.
Not sure how this makes any sense for the Dodgers. Love the person though.
I could see the Dodgers use him around the outfield on starters off days, DH here and there. A bit more value, especially at the plate (although not an elite closer) than Alberto.
If Milwaukee was smart they would bring back Cutch for another season. So, I doubt that’s going to happen.
Since Reynolds requested a trade (which I still am not happy about) the pirates need another outfielder. And I think it would make sense for Cutch to end his career with Pittsburgh.
Bryan Reynolds requested a trade so that opens an outfield spot. And it would make sense for Cutch to end his career in Pittsburgh.
Can we change that to please DONT sign anywhere but Pittsburgh:D