Andrew McCutchen Returns to Pittsburgh

According to Jason Mackey of the Post-Gazette, veteran outfielder Andrew McCutchen is signing a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The deal is pending a physical. The deal is for $5 million according to Mackey.

McCutchen had been one of the outfield depth pieces the Mets were considering. The top of the outfield market now consists of Adam Duvall, Jurickson Profar, and Trey Mancini.

McCutchen, 36, slashed 237/.316/.384 in 134 games a season ago for the Brewers, posting career lows in on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and OPS. However, he did still hit 17 homers and collect 69 RBIs.

While he used to be a premier center fielder, McCutchen is now really only a corner outfield option, although he did play all three spots for the Brew Crew in 2022. Despite his age, he finished with plus-4 DRS in the outfield a season ago.

Cutch still held his own against lefties in 2022 with a .738 OPS, and the season before he crushed them to the tune of 1.027 OPS. For his career, Cutch is a .300/.394/.542 hitter against left-handed pitching.

McCutchen returns to the organization that drafted him in the first round of the 2005 draft. He hit 203 home runs and posted a 40.4 WAR in nine seasons with the Pirates from 2009 through 2017.