McCutchen\u2019s deal, first reported by Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News<\/a>, is worth $1.25 million if he makes the major league squad, and can max out at $2.5 million if he reaches all of his incentives.<\/p>\n Andrew McCutchen spent the past three seasons in Pittsburgh. AP<\/p>\n He wasted no time embracing his new team, donning a cowboy hat in a brief X video<\/a> posted hours after news of the deal broke.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n The 39-year-old returned to Pittsburgh ahead of the 2023 season for what appeared to be a fitting late-career swan song after spending his first nine seasons with the organization.<\/p>\n While his performance was a far cry from his MVP peak, McCutchen still offered pop as a veteran right-handed hitter, averaging 15 home runs and 50 RBIs the past three campaigns.<\/p>\n In 135 games last season, McCutchen slashed .239\/.333\/.367 with 13 homers and 57 RBIs (95 wRC+).<\/p>\n Primarily a designated hitter at this juncture, the former Yankee maintained he wanted to continue his career in 2026 \u2014 but the Pirates did not commit to a reunion.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n The Pirates\u2019 busy offseason, which included the acquisitions of veteran slugger Marcell Ozuna<\/a> and first baseman Ryan O\u2019Hearn<\/a>, complicated McCutchen\u2019s potential fit on the roster.<\/p>\n Ozuna, O\u2019Hearn and incumbent first baseman Spencer Horowitz are expected to assume a majority of DH duties \u2014 but general manager Ben Cherington said the team would \u201ccontinue to communicate\u201d with McCutchen about a possible reunion.<\/p>\n McCutchen voiced displeasure in not being invited to the Pirates\u2019 annual offseason fan fest in January. AP<\/p>\n \u201cAndrew has meant a ton to the team,\u201d Cherington said in late January, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.\u00a0\u201cHe\u2019s had an incredible run at two different times.\u00a0 Certainly, his legacy as a Pirate is secure. Everybody with the Pirates, it\u2019s our desire to maintain a really good relationship with Andrew well into the future.\u00a0 Then we come back to our team.\u00a0 What is the job?\u00a0 The job is to build a team that gives us the best chance to win games when you\u2019re at the ballpark in June and July.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n \u201cOur 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.\u00a0 That\u2019s gonna continue to guide our decisions.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Andrew](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/8e79cf3d3de130554468ef35df8ead43.jpeg\"\/)
<\/p>\n![\"McCutchen](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/8edb7d01acf5566ade421e370e75aae0.jpeg\"\/)
<\/p>\n