LANE OF TRAFFIC HAS SINCE REOPENED. EVEN MORE BREAKING NEWS FOR YOU. THIS ONE A BIG ONE. ANDREW MCCUTCHEN, THE LONGTIME FAN FAVORITE AS A MEMBER OF THE PIRATES, WILL NOT BE REJOINING THE TEAM. THE FREE AGENT IS SIGNING WITH THE TEXAS RANGERS, ACCORDING TO OUR NEWS PARTNERS AT THE TRIB, CUTCH MADE IT VERY CLEAR THIS OFFSEASON THAT HE WANTED TO BE A PIRATE. THIS YEAR. THE BUCS JUST DIDN’T MAKE IT HAPPEN. THE FIVE TIME ALL STAR AND 2013 MVP WILL JOIN THE RANGERS ON A MINOR LEAGUE CONTRACT. IF HE MAKES THEIR BIG LEAGUE
Pirates star Andrew McCutchen reaches deal with Texas Rangers: Report
Updated: 4:10 PM EST Mar 5, 2026
Andrew McCutchen’s second stint with the Pittsburgh Pirates has come to an end.The former National League MVP has agreed to a minor-league deal with the Texas Rangers, the Dallas Morning News reported Thursday.The Associated Press reported that the deal would be worth $1.5 million if McCutchen is added to the Rangers’ 40-man roster and plays in the major leagues this season.McCutchen, 39, became a free agent after the 2025 season. The Pirates made several offseason moves to boost their lineup — signing Ryan O’Hearn and Marcell Ozuna and acquiring Brandon Lowe in a trade — but did not sign McCutchen to a new contract.McCutchen slashed .239/.333/.367 with 13 home runs in 135 games last year, mostly as a designated hitter.In June, he passed Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente for third place in Pirates history with his 241st home run for the club.A first-round draft pick in 2005, McCutchen played his first nine major-league seasons for Pittsburgh before being traded to San Francisco in 2018. McCutchen returned as a free agent in 2023 and played three more seasons with the Pirates.When asked about McCutchen’s status at the start of spring training, Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said, “The Pirates will never completely shut the door on Andrew McCutchen. That’s just how we feel about him. That’s not going to happen.”Cherington added, “No matter what, Andrew’s a Pirate and certainly our desire will be to continue to have a really strong relationship with him into the future, whatever that looks like.”
PITTSBURGH —
Andrew McCutchen’s second stint with the Pittsburgh Pirates has come to an end.
The former National League MVP has agreed to a minor-league deal with the Texas Rangers, the Dallas Morning News reported Thursday.
The Associated Press reported that the deal would be worth $1.5 million if McCutchen is added to the Rangers’ 40-man roster and plays in the major leagues this season.
McCutchen, 39, became a free agent after the 2025 season. The Pirates made several offseason moves to boost their lineup — signing Ryan O’Hearn and Marcell Ozuna and acquiring Brandon Lowe in a trade — but did not sign McCutchen to a new contract.
McCutchen slashed .239/.333/.367 with 13 home runs in 135 games last year, mostly as a designated hitter.
In June, he passed Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente for third place in Pirates history with his 241st home run for the club.
A first-round draft pick in 2005, McCutchen played his first nine major-league seasons for Pittsburgh before being traded to San Francisco in 2018. McCutchen returned as a free agent in 2023 and played three more seasons with the Pirates.
When asked about McCutchen’s status at the start of spring training, Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said, “The Pirates will never completely shut the door on Andrew McCutchen. That’s just how we feel about him. That’s not going to happen.”
Cherington added, “No matter what, Andrew’s a Pirate and certainly our desire will be to continue to have a really strong relationship with him into the future, whatever that looks like.”