Pittsburgh Pirates Legend Andrew McCutchen Returning to Club on New Contract

Veteran slugger Andrew McCutchen has decided to re-sign with the Pittsburgh Pirates, hoping to build upon his bounce-back 2023 season.

The Pittsburgh Pirates are signing longtime outfielder Andrew McCutchen to a one-year, $5 million contract, The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Jason Mackey reported Tuesday afternoon.

McCutchen returned to Pittsburgh in January after a five-year hiatus, signing an identical one-year, $5 million deal last time around as well. Although the veteran hit free agency in November, Mackey reported Friday that the team was pushing hard to bring back the 37-year-old slugger.

The Pirates posted a video on social media teasing McCutchen's return, following him through the tunnels at PNC Park.

pic.twitter.com/S9X595mV79

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) December 19, 2023

McCutchen was one of baseball's brightest young stars during his first stint with the Pirates. After finishing fourth in NL Rookie of the Year voting in 2009, McCutchen was a pinnacle of availability and production over the ensuing eight seasons.

From 2010 to 2017, McCutchen averaged 155 games played each year. He was an anchor in Pittsburgh's lineup during their only successful stretch in recent memory, leading them to the postseason in 2013, 2014 and 2015.

McCutchen made five consecutive All-Star appearances from 2011 to 2015, and he finished top five in NL MVP voting four consecutive seasons from 2012 to 2015. He won the honor in 2013.

The four-time Silver Slugger and one-time Gold Glove winner left Pittsburgh in 2017 with 1,463 hits, 203 home runs, 725 RBI, 171 stolen bases and a 40.4 WAR. To that point in his career, McCutchen was a .291 hitter with an .866 OPS.

McCutchen spent 2018 with the San Francisco Giants and New York Yankees, then settled in with the Philadelphia Phillies from 2019 to 2021. After a one-year stay with the Milwaukee Brewers – during which he put up the only sub-100 OPS+ of his career – McCutchen found his way back to Pittsburgh.

Spending the majority of his time at designated hitter before getting banged up down the stretch, McCutchen hit .256 with a .776 OPS in 2023. In 112 games, McCutchen racked up 12 home runs, 43 RBI, 11 stolen bases and a 1.5 WAR – his highest since 2019.

McCutchen is 75 hits away from breaking into the top 10 on the Pirates' career leaderboards. He already ranks No. 10 among position players with a 41.9 WAR in a Pittsburgh uniform, trailing only the likes of Honus Wagner, Roberto Clemente and Barry Bonds.

The Pirates will now have multiple veteran options at designated hitter in 2024 between McCutchen and Rowdy Tellez, who they signed on Dec. 12.

Follow Fastball on FanNation on social media

Continue to follow our Fastball on FanNation coverage on social media by LIKING us on Facebook and by following us on Twitter @FastballFN.