The Pittsburgh Pirates are on the dawn of a new era. After an aggressive offseason, they’ve assembled what looks like their most talented roster in years. They also have exciting young talent about to blossom in Konnor Griffin, Bubba Chandler and Jhostynxon Garcia.

Unfortunately, one face is notoriously absent at spring training this year: Andrew McCutchen’s.

With Opening Day just three weeks away, the 39-year-old former MVP remains unsigned. While he has expressed a strong desire to return for another season, the Pirates have so far opted not to re-sign him, and no other team has scooped him up.

If Pittsburgh does enjoy a nice turnaround this year, it will be unfortunate timing if he doesn’t get to be a part of it.

Retired sportswriter Bob Smiziz, who previously covered the Pirates for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, lamented McCutchen’s situation on X on Monday. However, he did not blame either side.

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And before anyone starts blaming the #Pirates for this situation please keep in mind that little is known about what dialogue, if any, took place between the team and the player. Which means finger- pointing is pretty much out of the question.

— Bob Smizik (@BobSmizik) March 2, 2026

“There is no sadder story in baseball today than that of Andrew McCutchen, a man without a team. Cutch, the most impactful #Pirate of the 21st-century, is desperate to play baseball. But no team wants him. So sad it has come to this,” Smizik wrote.

“And before anyone starts blaming the #Pirates for this situation please keep in mind that little is known about what dialogue, if any, took place between the team and the player. Which means finger-pointing is pretty much out of the question,” he wrote in a follow-up post.

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When someone in the comments asked if another team besides Pittsburgh would consider signing McCutchen, Smizik replied, “Only in extreme circumstances.”

McCutchen has accomplished a lot in his remarkable 17-year career, but he doesn’t seem to have much of a market this winter after slumping to 0.1 WAR and a career-low 95 OPS+ last season.

Perhaps the Pirates will still find a way to bring him back. But for now, McCutchen remains on the outside looking in.

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