Getty Image / Justin K. Aller
Let’s face it, being a Pittsburgh Pirates fan does not come with a lot of happiness. They’re one of the cheapest teams in Major League Baseball and haven’t been to the NLCS since 1992.
But, the team’s fans received some great news on Tuesday when the team agreed to a deal with team legend Andrew McCutchen to return to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Sources: Pirates bringing Andrew McCutchen back. One year, $5 million. Story to come.
— Jason Mackey (@JMackeyPG) December 19, 2023
The outfielder was a first-round pick of the team in 2005, and was the team’s best homegrown position player since Barry Bonds. Andrew McCutchen even captured NL MVP in 2013 as the Pirates won 94 games before falling in the NLDS to the St. Louis Cardinals, 3-2. That season, he slashed .317/.404/.517 with 21 home runs, 84 RBI, 97 runs, and 27 stolen bases while playing elite defense in centerfield. The Florida native made five straight All-Star teams from 2011-2015.
But, his nine-season stint in Pittsburgh came to an end after the 2017 season, when the Pirates traded him to the Giants. Since then, he’s also played for the Yankees, Phillies, and Brewers with mixed results. He’s still an above-average offensive player with great on-base skills.
Plus, when you’re a fan of the team like the Pittsburgh Pirates who aren’t going to spend big bucks to annually contend, it’s the small victories that count. The team actually has some promising talent under team control in Ke’Bryan Hayes, Henry Davis, Bryan Reynolds, Mitch Keller, and Oneil Cruz, plus a great crop of minor league prospects led by 2023 first-overall pick SP Paul Skenes. But, they likely won’t be contenders this year. Getting to see Andrew McCutchen play out what could be his final year at one of the league’s best ballparks in PNC Park will help get Bucs fans through the door.