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Andrew McCutchen aims to play MLB baseball in 2026.
The Pittsburgh Pirates’ decision-making around franchise icon Andrew McCutchen has made MLB news and created one of the most uncomfortable situations of the 2026 MLB offseason—and the 2013 National League MVP just made his frustration public in a major way.
McCutchen fired off a pointed social media post late Saturday night after missing PiratesFest, calling out the organization for how it’s handling his unsigned free agent status and drawing stark comparisons to how other franchises treated their retiring legends.
The five-time All-Star specifically name-dropped Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina, Adam Wainwright, Clayton Kershaw, and Miguel Cabrera as examples of players who received proper farewell treatment from their organizations.
“I wonder, did the Cards do this [to] Wainwright/Pujols/Yadi? Dodgers to Kershaw? Tigers to Miggy? The list goes on and on,” McCutchen wrote on X. “If this is my last year, it would have been nice to meet the fans one last time as a player,” his post read.
I wonder, did the Cards do this Wainwright/Pujols/Yadi? Dodgers to Kershaw?Tigers to Miggy? The list goes on and on. If this is my last year, it would have been nice to meet the fans one last time as a player. Talk to them about my appreciation for them over the years. Shake that… https://t.co/oB8Nq1bjng
— Andrew McCutchen (@TheCUTCH22) January 25, 2026
MLB News: Former NL MVP Andrew McCutchen Not Invited to Pittsburgh Pirates Fan Festival
The elephant in the David L. Lawrence Convention Center on Jan. 24 was McCutchen’s absence, and Pirates general manager Ben Cherington addressed the situation when fans and reporters pressed him during the team’s annual fan festival.
Cherington delivered what can only be described as a masterclass in saying a lot while committing to nothing.
“Andrew has meant a ton to the team. He’s had an incredible run at two different times. Certainly, his legacy as a Pirate is secure,” Cherington told reporters, including Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “Everybody with the Pirates, it’s our desire to maintain a really good relationship with Andrew well into the future.”
McCutchen Remains Unsigned, Wants to Play in 2026
McCutchen’s 2025 offensive production creates the core tension in this situation. He slashed .239/.333/.367 with 13 home runs over 551 plate appearances across 135 games, producing a 95 wRC+—just below league average and only the second time in his 18-year career he’s fallen under the 100 wRC+ mark.
Most of his Statcast metrics came back average at best, though he did maintain an elite 12.2% walk rate that ranked among the strongest marks in his recent seasons. He drew 67 walks against 118 strikeouts while collecting 114 hits, 22 doubles, 57 RBIs, and 51 runs scored.
“Then we come back to our team. What is the job? The job is to build a team that gives us the best chance to win games when you’re at the ballpark in June and July,” Cherington continued during the Q & A session.
“Our approach this offseason has been laser-focused on what gives us the best chance to win more baseball games in Pittsburgh than we have in the past seasons. That’s gonna continue to guide our decisions. So much respect for Andrew. That relationship is really important to us. We’ll continue to communicate with him directly as the team comes together. We have more work to do.”
McCutchen Already Defended His Defensive Capabilities on Social Media
This wasn’t McCutchen’s first time using X to address the narrative around his unsigned status. On Jan. 19, he pushed back hard against critics who’ve claimed he can no longer play defense.
“It is really funny how so many ppl say I ‘Can’t (key word) play defense.’ I haven’t played much defense because they haven’t asked that of me,” McCutchen wrote. “The only reason I played a few games last year is because Reynolds needed rest from a minor injury and I ASKED to play defense to get in the lineup.”
He continued: “No one said anything then? Bottom line is if it is needed, I can not only do it, but do it like Ive been out there all year. So stop creating false narratives and take your wives or GFs out to dinner and get off the coat tails of other men. That’s weird energy.”
Cherington’s comment about still communicating with McCutchen leaves the door slightly cracked. But as Pittsburgh Baseball Now notes, both sides would need significant movement for a deal to materialize before pitchers and catchers report soon.
Justin Carlucci brings 13+ years of journalism experience to Heavy. A veteran of multiple industry-leading companies, he has hosted SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio shows and contributed to the New York Post, combining traditional sports and news reporting with expertise in sports betting and fantasy sports. More about Justin Carlucci
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