Whereas Andrew McCutchen is a number of weeks from free company, it appears inevitable that he’ll re-sign with the Pirates. The franchise legend has made clear on a number of events that he intends to complete his profession in Pittsburgh. The Bucs have reciprocated that curiosity.
Feedback this week from each McCutchen and common supervisor Ben Cherington level towards the previous MVP ultimately returning for a twelfth season. In June, the 37-year-old advised Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Put up-Gazette he deliberate to proceed enjoying. McCutchen restated these intentions in a chat with the beat on Tuesday (hyperlink by way of Alex Stumpf of MLB.com). This morning, Cherington confirmed the Pirates hope to maintain him round.
“He’s proving once more this 12 months that he can hit and hit at a stage that helps us win video games,” the GM advised reporters (hyperlink by way of Noah Hiles of the Put up-Gazette). “I’d simply repeat what I mentioned earlier than. We’d like to discover a method for Andrew to complete his profession in a Pirates uniform. Glad he feels good, appears like he can nonetheless try this and nonetheless play. As I did final 12 months, as we get to the top of the season, we’ll have a dialog with Andrew after the season’s over.”
That is certainly how issues performed out final fall. McCutchen had returned to Pittsburgh on a one-year deal over the 2022-23 offseason. In early October, Cherington mentioned the perimeters would discuss a brand new contract over the winter. It took till December, however the events ultimately hammered out a $5MM deal for 2024.
As he did in 2023, Cutch has carried out properly offensively. He’s reached the 20-homer threshold for the primary time in three seasons. He’s hitting .241/.338/.432 in 470 plate appearances. His strikeout and stroll charges have every gone within the improper path, however he’s hitting for extra energy than he did final season.
By measure of wRC+, McCutchen has been 14 proportion factors above league common offensively for a second straight 12 months. That’s second on the staff behind Bryan Reynolds amongst these with 300+ plate appearances. Reynolds, McCutchen, Oneil Cruz and Joey Bart (the latter of whom has 232 PAs) have been the one above-average hitters within the Pittsburgh lineup.
The five-time All-Star is sort of solely a chosen hitter. McCutchen has began two video games in proper area. His 102 different appearances have come as a DH. That limits the staff’s flexibility. McCutchen is fifth in MLB in plate appearances as a chosen hitter. The 4 gamers forward of him — Shohei Ohtani, Marcell Ozuna, Kyle Schwarber and Brent Rooker — have every hit 30+ homers. McCutchen isn’t going to supply that stage of manufacturing at this stage of his profession, however he’s nonetheless one of many stronger bats in a Pittsburgh lineup that must be more practical. There’s a easy case for bringing him again even earlier than contemplating McCutchen’s locker room presence and his iconic standing inside the group.
It’d seemingly be one other one-year deal. McCutchen has signed for $5MM in every of the final two offseasons. He’d be justified in looking for a modest pay bump this time round. When he signed after the 2022 season, he was coming off the one below-average offensive exhibiting of his profession. He’d bounced again final 12 months, however the reunion was lower brief by a partial tear of his left Achilles in September. He’s trending in direction of a wholesome end in 2024. That would push his wage up by a pair million {dollars}, although it’s honest to imagine he’s extra involved with staying in Pittsburgh than he’s about maximizing his incomes energy.
