Veteran outfielder Andrew McCutchen has agreed to a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic was the first to report the latest news.
Source confirms Andrew McCutchen and Pirates are in agreement on one-year deal, pending physical.
— RobBiertempfel (@RobBiertempfel) January 13, 2023
Andrew McCutchen and the Pirates
For the first time since 2017, McCutchen is back where he made his major league debut. He was originally a first-round pick by Pittsburgh in 2005. He made his debut on June 4, 2009. In nine seasons with the Pirates, McCutchen was a mainstay in the outfield and became a fan favorite. He was named to five All-Star games, won four-time Silver Slugger and received the 2013 NL MVP Award. He was the first Pirate to win that award since Barry Bonds. Furthermore, he managed to get the Pirates into the playoffs for the first time since 1992. He even helped the Pirates reach consecutive Wild Card appearances in 2013, 2014, and 2015.
What to expect
McCutchen has played mostly in left field in his six years away. He may not be guaranteed to steal 15 bases a season, but he can still hit 15 home runs and 75 RBI. He is now 36 years locality to play every day. Last season with the Milwaukee Brewers, he usually batted fourth in the lineup and hit .285/.351/.434 with seven home runs and thirty-one RBI. For a young team, he can provide a great example of leadership. As someone who has come up through the Pirates organization, he knows what these young stars are going through and can show them how to thrive in a market like Pittsburgh.
Milestone Watch
There are a few personal milestones worth noting that Andrew McCutchen can achieve in 2023 with the Pittsburgh Pirates. First, he is just 17 walks away from having 1000 in his career. McCutchen is 8 doubles away from 400, and 13 home runs away from 300. Most importantly, he is just 52 hits shy of 2000 career hits. Something Pirates fans should look forward to in 2023.
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