While Andrew McCutchen is a few weeks from free agency, it seems inevitable that he’ll re-sign with the Pirates. The franchise legend has made clear on multiple occasions that he intends to finish his career in Pittsburgh. The Bucs have reciprocated that interest.
Comments this week from both McCutchen and general manager Ben Cherington point toward the former MVP eventually returning for a 12th season. In June, the 37-year-old told Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette he planned to continue playing. McCutchen restated those intentions in a chat with the beat on Tuesday (link via Alex Stumpf of MLB.com). This morning, Cherington confirmed the Pirates hope to keep him around.
“He’s proving again this year that he can hit and hit at a level that helps us win games,” the GM told reporters (link via Noah Hiles of the Post-Gazette). “I would just repeat what I said before. We would love to find a way for Andrew to finish his career in a Pirates uniform. Glad he feels good, feels like he can still do that and still play. As I did last year, as we get to the end of the season, we’ll have a conversation with Andrew after the season’s over.”
This is indeed how things played out last fall. McCutchen had returned to Pittsburgh on a one-year deal over the 2022-23 offseason. In early October, Cherington said the sides would talk about a new contract over the winter. It took until December, but the parties eventually hammered out a $5MM deal for 2024.
As he did in 2023, Cutch has performed well offensively. He’s reached the 20-homer threshold for the first time in three seasons. He’s hitting .241/.338/.432 in 470 plate appearances. His strikeout and walk rates have each gone in the wrong direction, but he’s hitting for more power than he did last season.
By measure of wRC+, McCutchen has been 14 percentage points above league average offensively for a second straight year. That’s second on the team behind Bryan Reynolds among those with 300+ plate appearances. Reynolds, McCutchen, Oneil Cruz and Joey Bart (the latter of whom has 232 PAs) have been the only above-average hitters in the Pittsburgh lineup.
The five-time All-Star is almost exclusively a designated hitter. McCutchen has started two games in right field. His 102 other appearances have come as a DH. That limits the team’s flexibility. McCutchen is fifth in MLB in plate appearances as a designated hitter. The four players ahead of him — Shohei Ohtani, Marcell Ozuna, Kyle Schwarber and Brent Rooker — have each hit 30+ homers. McCutchen isn’t going to provide that level of production at this stage of his career, but he’s still one of the more potent bats in a Pittsburgh lineup that needs to be more effective. There’s a simple case for bringing him back even before considering McCutchen’s locker room presence and his iconic status within the organization.
It’d likely be another one-year deal. McCutchen has signed for $5MM in each of the last two offseasons. He’d be justified in seeking a modest pay bump this time around. When he signed after the 2022 season, he was coming off the only below-average offensive showing of his career. He’d bounced back last year, but the reunion was cut short by a partial tear of his left Achilles in September. He’s trending towards a healthy finish in 2024. That could push his salary up by a couple million dollars, though it’s fair to assume he’s more concerned with staying in Pittsburgh than he is about maximizing his earning power.
bucsfan0004
He’s proven he can still hit. I think he’d be justified in asking for something like $7.5M. If a team ten games under .500 can pay a FA reliever $10M, then Cutch should surely get $7-8MM on a 1yr deal
User 4095290658
He’s a pure DH with a bit of power and plate discipline, but anything more than $6m (see Dream below) is crazy talk.
Cutch along with Shelton, Haines and Cherington have haven’t manifested the promised rebuild.
Rip it up and start again.
TheMan 3
Cutch was never part of the rebuild, he personally contacted Nutting and said that he wanted to return to play for the Pirates and Nutting agreed
User 4095290658
He was supposed to be a mentor to assist the rebuild.
He failed and the Pirates are no better hitting wise than when he first came back on board.
Tell me about Bednar again homer boy.
TheMan 3
I’m not a boy you ignorant fool
holecamels35
Not his job to help the players hit better. He seems like he’s been fantastic in the clubhouse and has probably been the 4th-5th best hitter on the team. Reynolds, Bart, Cruz, Cutch, Gonzales. He got on base and hit for pretty good power. I just wish he can play the outfield 1-2 days a week for flexibility.
joew
Nutting is a big cutch fan
Michol
2 year for $10m
User 4095290658
Two years guaranteed for someone in their late 30’s is ridiculous.
$3m one year deal as full time DH (which actually hurts the club considering Davis, Endy, Reynolds, Cruz defensive abilities).
TheMan 3
Davis can’t hit major league pitching, Reynolds is actually second in the league in outfield assists, no one knows how Endy will be following his TJ surgery and Cruz seems to be a better center fielder than shortstop and while his offense is better than last year he still strikes out far too many times for someone who isn’t a power hitter
What other excuses do you have?
User 4095290658
No excuses just facts.
Cutch is not needed if the rest of the squad performs unless he has some magical leadership skills not yet demonstrated.
TheMan 3
thankfully you don’t make the roster decisions so get used to it, Cutch will be back next season
TheMan 3
what facts did you provide? All I read were personal opinions
Scott Kliesen
Nobody has any idea of Cruz’s defensive abilities in CF, but his arm and speed are a strong foundation to build on.
Clemente21Retire
We signed Tellez for 3.2 million and he is not gonna even hit 20 HRs which was the whole reason we brought him
stathead.com/baseball/versus-finder.cgi?player_id2…
Cutch clears him by a mile in less games. Cutch is worth at least 5-7 millions and if he is healthy and can produce the same for those 2 years? Hell ill take it.
YourDreamGM
“We would love to find a way for Andrew to finish his career in a Pirates uniform”
Easy give him another 5 million and he is back. Maybe 6 for inflation. He can still hit. He’s a star in Pittsburgh. He wants to stay. All you have to do is pay the man a fair value. This is the way.
bigdaddyk
Yeah 5 million and you have a dh for 100 games
TheMan 3
BigDaddy won’t be happy, he said that it was time Cutch retired and would so after the end of this season
The article doesn’t mention this, everyone’s walk and strikeouts have gone in the wrong direction this year, not just Cutch
Offer him a player-hitting coach contract since he doesn’t play as regularly as he used to.
User 4095290658
I’d prefer him over Haines as hitting coach, but I don’t see any evidence at all that Cutch has been a positive ‘mentor’ this last two seasons..
chuckmossfield
Cutch has adopted Pittsburgh & Pittsburgh has adopted Cutch. He lives in the area in the off season & is part of the community. He has never embarrassed himself or his team. The Pirate organization needs to find a way for him to stay involved with the organization as a lifer. The same as they have done with others like Blass, Tekeulve, Sanguillen, Parker & the Clemente family
TheMan 3
he lives in Pittsburgh year round now and his kids go to schools in the Franklin Park district
Paleobros
I think that him saying a player lives in the area in the off-season implies they live there year round. A player wouldn’t live elsewhere during the season but in the area not during the season. That would be funny though.
TheMan 3
whatever Nobros
Some people here just enjoy being annoying
Mendoza Line 215
Chuck- This is all true but the question remains has he been a leader on the field for the Pirates?
Does he consistently help the young players,as the elder statesman of the team?
He may not feel that he can trump Reynolds,especially as only the DH,but Brian clearly does not want to be a leader.
I do not know that anyone knows unless they are young players on the Pirates.
But I read an article today saying that Harper does that with the Phillies for every new player coming up.It makes them feel comfortable.
Hopefully Cutch does at least that.
YourDreamGM
Reynolds is the leader. I don’t watch that many games and even less interviews and heard multiple players say Reynolds is our leader. Do you want a silent laid back leader?
I prefer a Santana getting in the face of someone who doesn’t run out a play and smashes tvs in clubhouse when players want to laugh and play videogames after a loss.
TheMan 3
Santana was in fact a leader to the young Latino players last year and often times this year I have seen Cutch talking to Cruz, for example, going over what I would believe was his approach at the plate, both viewing an Ipad.
All of the players have access to an Ipad and will review their respective plate appearances afterwards
But an Ipad isn’t a leader, someone must step up and become one
TheMan 3
Santana cost too much to bring back for this season so it’s apparent that profits are more important than leadership with this franchise
TheMan 3
not only did this team lose leadership when they refused to bring back Santana, they lost his offensive capabilities
21 homers 63 rbi and his 57 walks would lead the team
UWPSUPERFAN77
You make a lot of sense. However, he is not worth anything more than they are paying him.
mro940
Fringe HoF? Or Hall of Very Good?
SteveM7
HOVG
inutero
dude’s been cooked since 2016, not even hovg, more like hog. Derek Lee, Pablo Sandoval type. being lauded now because pittsburg has nothing else to celebrate LOL
FemboySportsFan!
I wouldn’t say “cooked” considering he’s only had 1 season under a 100 OPS+ and only 3/8 seasons were under 20 homers, and he still hit over 15 homers. He’s just declining a little due to age. He’s just declined slightly…not “cooked” he’s been an above average player since 2016.
FemboySportsFan!
Also, Derek Lee played one season in the league, and was terrible….Pablo Sandoval was nowhere near as good as cutch as well….only 1200 career hits compared to Andrews 2100…Sandoval was a decent player at best…not good comparisons at all.
inutero
Cutch has been a 1 war player for half a decade and can’t hit a fastball anymore. he wouldn’t even get 5% of HOF votes. Sandoval wasn’t fair, you’re right. i’d say a good offensive comp is Ryan Zimmerman or David wright, hall of Fame for the pirates but that’s about it.
lesterdnightfly
“Also, Derek Lee played one season in the league, and was terrible…”
You mean Derrek Lee, who played 15 seasons in the league and had 34.6 WAR and an .859 OPS?
FemboySportsFan!
Lester
He said DEREK LEE, not DERREK LEE
DEREK Lee only had one major league season, its not my fault he spelled it wrong.
TheMan 3
good thing your vote won’t count when it comes to Cutch’s potential for being elected to the HOF
lesterdnightfly
Femboy:
You are confused and confusing at the same time.
Drop it.
lesterdnightfly
Femboy 2.0:
And shouting in capital letters just makes you sound desperate. And petty.
DodgersBro
lester
Or they were using emphasis
lesterdnightfly
Femboy and others:
When someone can rationally explain why Derek Lee (one season, not in Pittsburgh) and/or Derrek Lee (113 PAs in Pittsburgh at the last year of his excellent 15-year career) have/has any relevance to Cutch’s situation,
AND (added for emphasis, not in desperation) why so many are vehement in defending inutero’s original vague and inaccurate comment, I am ready to listen.
TheMan 3
I wasn’t talking to you
FemboySportsFan!
Why is it relevant?
obviously you cant read, he originally said derek Lee, not Derrek, so I simply stated DEREK Lee only player one season…
Also nobody is defending his point also, please learn to read…and not be a smart @ss.
TheMan 3
My comment was directed at inutero, it’s not my fault where my comments land on this site
FemboySportsFan!
@Newbuc
I know you aren’t talking about me, I’m agreeing with him.
Scott Kliesen
Neither D Lee is a good comp. Cutch won an MVP and was top 5 in MVP voting 3 other seasons. And since you cited Lee’s career WAR, Cutch is at 49.8.
Cutch is nowhere near an MLB all-time great, but nowadays that’s not a requirement to be inducted. I won’t be surprised if he does a whole lot better than you think because it’s a popularity contest to a certain extent.
Mendoza Line 215
Lester-I will try to respond to you in a logical manner.
Inutero was wrong in saying Cutch is not in the Hall of Very Good.He is..But clearly not in HOF or Hall of Good.
Inutero is not a good speller.He not only misspelled Derek but also Pittsburg.
Femboy is the only fan alive who remembered Derek Lee other than Lee’s parents.He is clearly a stickler for details as 99% of the free world only remember Derreck Lee.
I cannot fault Femboy but he could have clarified it.
As an aside,Lee retired after the 2011 season rather than play for the Pirates.
And I am not talking about Derek.He would have gladly played for anyone.
inutero
lmao!!!
TheMan 3
Pittsburgh is spelled with an H at the end, Einstein and he’s so cooked he still managed to hit 20 homers this season
mlb1225
Might be biased, but I think he makes it to the Hall of Fame. Only one of only 13 outfielders (at least 75% of their games were in the OF) to have 2000+ hits, 300+ home runs, and 200+ stolen bases. The rest are either Hall of Famers, will be in the HOF, would be in the HOF if it weren’t for steroids, or were borderline. Among those 13 players, Cutch has the 9th best OPS+. Cutch has about 50 bWAR and fWAR as well. He’s been to 5 ASGs, has 4 silver sluggers, a gold glove, and a MVP award. he character clause might help him out as well. He’s been an outstanding man both on and off the field and has won the Roberto Clemente award.
inutero
Those are some pretty arbitrary coping states you picked out. if Jim edmonds, Kenny lofton, Curtis granderson, Andrew Jones, and Bernie williams aren’t in the Hof, Cutch has no chance. he just hasn’t had a very impactful career. good peak of 5 years and been washed for almost a decade now.
TheMan 3
He’s also a former MVP, 6 times an All Star, finished in the top 3 in MVP voting 5 times, won a Golden Glove and 4 times a silver slugger award winner
None of those players you listed made the same type of impact on their teams that Cutch did during his prime
TheMan 3
plus he’s only one of a few dozen players who have hit 300+ homers, drawn over 1000 walks, driven in and scored over 1000 runs, over 400 doubles
mlb1225
Hits, homers, and stolen bases are three of the biggest coutnting stats voters focus on and Cutch has a ton of each. Granderson never had 2000 hits or stole 200 bases. Williams didn’t hit 300 home runs or steal 200 bases, Edmonds also never got to 2000 hits or stole more than even 100 bases. Jones is still on the ballot and Lofton should be in the Hall. But that doesn’t mean that Cutch isn’t worthy. You mention David Wright and Ryan Zimmerman, but Cutch has nearly 10 more WAR than Zimmerman. He also has over 70 more home runs and over 350 more hits than Wright.
YankeesBleacherCreature
Cutch’s best career comp is Torii Hunter. HOVG but a HOF dude.
toptimrubies
I like the way you phrased that YBC. McCutchen seems like the most universally liked guy in baseball.
Scott Kliesen
This is actually a really good comp. Hunter has more hits and HR’s, and similar career WAR. Hunter also has a distinct defensive advantage with all those GG’s. Cutch had a much better peak though, as Hunter never finished in top 5 for MVP.
YourDreamGM
Fringe. Not a long peak but had a few hall of fame elite years. If he retired today he falls short but he is coming back for at least 1 more year. If he comes back for 2026 then he had a long career. Knee injury cost him a nice chunk. 2020 cost everyone a chunk so that needs factored in. Doubt he makes my hall but the other one has some pretty weak members so Cutch could find a home.
Datashark
Cutch is not even a fringe HOF. He could be considered pirates version of HOF because he generated enough fanfare for sure.
SteveM7
Given the age and DH restriction, no real need for a raise. Given the production, let alone dearth of payroll elsewhere, no real need for a pay cut. Given the precedent already set over each of the last 2 seasons, it’s simple: another year @ $5M, see you back in 2025 Cutch!
TheMan 3
I believe given Cutch’s history with this franchise and his contributions off the field, he should ask for and receive a raise
His original long term contract with the Pirates, was one he agreed to as a team friendly deal
Taking less money to stay here instead of what would have been available on the open market, he’s earned a raise from his devotion to this team
and spare me the nonsense that he would be taking money away from other players
That’s Ben Cherington double speak for saying that they are too cheap
inutero
devotion to the team? please my guy, he is barely replacement level, he is lucky he has a job right now. he should take whatever nutting offers
TheMan 3
i’m not your guy Einstein. You obviously have no clue as what Cutch has meant to this organization and seem to live in a fantasy world of delusion
lesterdnightfly
Someone needs to look up “devotion” in his Funk & Wagnalls.
TheMan 3
are you even aware that it was Cutch that called Nutting about returning to Pittsburgh and not ownership that sought out his services?
Probably not is my guess
People like you who think they know everything, become apparent that they don’t know squat
inutero
enjoy not watching the pirates in the playoffs like every year. grade a cope.
TheMan 3
while I enjoy you making a complete fool of yourself, inutero and in fact I always get a good laugh from them
YourDreamGM
Didn’t have a strong year in Milwaukee and didnt prove he could dh or leadoff. Proved that with Pittsburgh but also proved he couldn’t play the field anymore and had the knee issue. Health won’t get better with age. Has to retire sometime. Another 5 million sounds right. 6 or 7 if market demands it.
ElGaupo77
It be nice to get him in the OF more often
TheMan 3
he doesn’t have the legs to play the outfield anymore which is why he has become the DH
And it’s actually improved his power stroke as a result
Cutch has only played in 110 games yet he’s tied for second in homers. If he played in the outfield more, he would have been on the IL longer than he already was
Old York
What about Paul Skenes?
FemboySportsFan!
future Yankee and astro
Old York
@FemboySportsFan
Not a future Blue Jay?
FemboySportsFan!
I wish, but not happening XD
This one belongs to the Reds
Many people get on a plane to Toronto, but that doesn’t mean they will play there.
Sadly, Skenes will play elsewhere after his sixth year. The curse of small market clubs in this fouled up system.
YourDreamGM
Try to extend him if not trade him. Awful time to extend him though. See if he struggles or has a injury scare. Give him a taste of living in Pittsburgh and some winning.
User 4095290658
I think you missed out the ‘in three years time’ of trying to trade him, Dream.
Trading him now would be nigh on impossible due to other teams not having the players as valuable that are available in return.
TheMan 3
yeah as if Cherington would know talent to bring back in a trade
Can anyone say Bryan De la Cruz?
YourDreamGM
I try to avoid the captain obvious business. Most players get traded between 1 and 2 years of team control remaining. So yeah he isn’t going anywhere until then unless Nutting keeps Cherington too long and another rebuild is needed from new gm.
Cherington knows talent. Any average intelligence baseball gm does. Just take whatever trade that has the most guys who hit and or throw the ball hard. He knew exactly what he traded for in Cruz.
TheMan 3
so Cherington knew that DLC would hit less than .200, strikeout often and provide almost no power before trading for him?
FemboySportsFan!
Someone doesn’t have a sense of humor do they?
Tabata's Adopted Son
They should just work out a mostly ceremonial “perpetual contract” that gives them a $5M mutual option every year until Andrew is ready to call it quits.
I think he will transition into coaching/player development shortly after he leaves anyway. That’s a guy who likes being in Pittsburgh, and you sure as hell want him there.
holecamels35
It’s not like the Pirates have a wealth of quality hitters forcing themselves into the lineup. Davis could be the odd man out if he doesn’t play first or OF because Bart/Endy should be catching. First is potentially open if they don’t bring back Tellez. Right could be a platoon or let BDLC start fresh and the middle infield has ok but not great options. I think Nick G is much better than the stats show. He and Bart have constantly got big hits late and with runners on. Triolo and IKF can shift around and Hayes is just ????
YourDreamGM
Bart should be playing 1b or dh. His bat can play there, keep him healthy since he has a bat, just a average catcher.
Davis can’t even beat Grandpal for playing time. Can’t hit or catch. If another off-season getting non Pirates coaching makes him a good catcher that’s where he should play because unless his hitting drastically improves it’s the only position his bat plays. Davis is a major draft bust. Soon to be traded for pennies on the dollar unless he finds someone to teach him how to play mlb baseball. He would have made it as a catcher with many other teams. It was amazing what 1 winter of non Pirates coaching done for him. 2 or 3 entire years of that coaching would have done the trick.
Brick House Coffee Tables Inc
He will wait until after the Rule 5 draft to sign again, to allow the Pirates to protect one extra minor leaguer.
YourDreamGM
Prospect would be much more likely to get picked up when dfa to add Cutch vs taken in rule 5. Rule 5 forces them to keep prospect on 26 man roster the entire season vs claiming them and option them to minors.
Mendoza Line 215
Brick- Not sure whether he did that last year.
The best thing to do would be to invite him to ST as a non roster and pay him the previously agreed upon figure at the end..This would not tie up a space on the 40 man until the season.
It would give them the maximum time to evaluate the young players.
The problem would happen if he seriously got injured in ST.But in that event they could put him on the 60 day IL.
UWPSUPERFAN77
This got a little testy! This is baseball, not life and death!
TheMan 3
Massey of the Royals, not known to be a strikeout pitcher, strikes out the Pirates side in the first inning
But Shelton is worthy of coming back as the manager
what a crock of squat
TheMan 3
They won’t come back after this disaster by Ortiz, they just don’t have the offense
by the way I am sick of the lies perpetrated by the Do Nothing ex pres and his disgusting enablers
TheMan 3
Cruz is on pace to strike out 186 times
TheMan 3
the only player not to strike out in today’s game was also the only player with an XBH, that being Cutch
27 strikeouts over the last two games yet Ben expects Shelton to come back next season m
Both Bart and IKF struck out with the bases loaded on pitches nowhere close to the plate
IKF has lost 27 points from his batting average since coming over from Toronto
How could every player get worse when they come here and no one is held accountable?
User 4095290658
Legend has it that TheMan3 is still shouting at the clouds.
TheMan 3
I can just as easily add you to my lengthy list of muted people and will do so now
You come across at knowing everything, insult those who you disagree with instead of engaging in meaningful conversation and are simply annoying