{"id":642914,"date":"2026-03-25T17:03:24","date_gmt":"2026-03-25T17:03:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/642914\/"},"modified":"2026-03-25T17:03:24","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T17:03:24","slug":"former-pirate-andrew-mccutchen-secures-roster-spot-with-texas-rangers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/642914\/","title":{"rendered":"Former Pirate Andrew McCutchen secures roster spot with Texas Rangers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Former Pittsburgh Pirate<\/a> and National League MVP, Andrew McCutchen, will be on the opening day roster for the Texas Rangers<\/a>. This will be McCutchen\u2019s 18th MLB season.<\/p>\n

After going most of the offseason with little to no communication from Pittsburgh\u2019s front office McCutchen signed a minor league deal with the Rangers on March 6. The 39-year-old was with the team for spring training in Arizona for just three weeks but impressed Chris Young, the Rangers\u2019 president of baseball operations, with his play and leadership qualities.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere were a number of factors that went into it, but ultimately we felt like Cutch earned it just with his performance,\u201d Young said. \u201cThe way he\u2019s hit the ball, the way his approach is \u2014 [we] felt very good that he\u2019s going to help us win a lot of games.\u201d<\/p>\n

While in camp \u2018Cutch only had 21 at bats, but made the absolute most of his opportunities. He\u2019d finish spring training with a slash line of .429\/.556\/.714 with an OPS of 1.270. The former-MVP tallied nine hits, scored five runs, hit 7 RBIs and hit one homer while reaffirming that he\u2019s still got some game left in him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was wrote off in a lot of places, honestly told to retire. But I knew deep down there was something in me that told me that there was still more in the tank and that I could continue to keep playing,\u201d McCutchen said. \u201cFor them giving me the opportunity \u2026 I\u2019m going to make sure that it\u2019s worth it from both of our ends.\u201d<\/p>\n

McCutchen who was drafted by the Pirates in 2005 and then made his MLB debut with the club in 2009 spent his first nine seasons with Pittsburgh. In that time frame he was Baseball America\u2019s Rookie of the Year, the NL-MVP in 2013, a Gold Glove Defender in 2012, a four-time Silver Slugger, a five-time All-Star and was the recipient of the Roberto Clemente Award in 2015. The Fort Meade native helped lead the franchise to a playoff berth in 2013 and beat the rival Cincinnati Reds in the Wild Card round. Prior to this the Pirates endured a period of 20 consecutive losing seasons, a North American sports record.<\/p>\n

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The Pirates traded McCutchen to the San Francisco Giants in 2018. \u2018Cutch would go on to play for the Giants, Yankees, Phillies and Brewers before returning to the Pirates in 2023 where he would spend three more seasons with the club before not being resigned this offseason. Last season he had 13 home runs and 57 RBIs with the Pirates.<\/p>\n

Now with the Texas Rangers the veteran outfielder and designated hitter is in a locker room with several budding superstars and his leadership will bring just as much to the clubhouse and his bat. Texas manager Skip Schumaker outlined what he envisions for his new leader as a member of the Rangers.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe more guys around that we can have like Andrew McCutchen, the better,\u201d Schumaker said. \u201cI think he\u2019s going to really help a lot of these young guys play with a different mentality and edge. He came in and performed well right away. He fit right in in the clubhouse, can still play the outfield at times.\u201d<\/p>\n

Schumaker went on to say that while McCutchen won\u2019t be a full time outfielder, he is a valuable piece to have in the clubhouse and on the bench.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think you\u2019ll see him all the time out there, but if we need him, he\u2019ll play out there,\u201d Schumaker said. \u201cBut just a really valuable piece to either come off the bench in a high-leverage spot or also potentially start against left-handed pitching.\u201d<\/p>\n

McCutchen echoed the importance of his new role.<\/p>\n

\u201cI told them I am at their disposal \u2014 no matter what it is, no matter what they need from me, I\u2019m here, and that\u2019s what I\u2019m here for,\u201d McCutchen said.<\/p>\n

More than anything this is an opportunity for McCutchen to continue to play and if this is his last season to go out on his own terms, and he seems poised to take control of the situation both as a mentor and as a plug and play type of player in high leverage spots.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the beginning for me to continue to keep doing what I\u2019ve been doing since I got here. And understanding that just because I\u2019m here doesn\u2019t mean that I\u2019m here to stay,\u201d McCutchen said. \u201cI have to remind myself of that every single day that I\u2019m out here and that I am on the field. Even the days that I\u2019m not starting, always knowing that there\u2019s a way to improve, and for my peers and teammates, there\u2019s something that I can do to be able to help them.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Texas Rangers open up their season in Philadelphia for a three game series with the Phillies. The Rangers will face the Pittsburgh Pirates in Arlington from April 21-23. Barring any kind of reunion with the Pirates this season or a move to a team that will play in Pittsburgh this season, McCutchen will not play at PNC Park in 2026.<\/p>\n

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