Perrotto: Andrew McCutchen Might Have Tough Decision Ahead
Small sample sizes can sometimes fool even the most astute individuals.
Andrew McCutchen is an example. In 2022, he was playing for the Milwaukee Brewers in early August against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a three-game series at PNC Park.
There were some extenuating circumstances surrounding that series. Most notable was the Brewers’ decision to ship star closer Josh Hader to the San Diego Padres at the trade deadline, coming in the middle of a pennant race.
The Brewers were an angry and distracted team when they came into Pittsburgh.
McCutchen, though, looked past his own team and across the field at the Pirates. He saw what he thought was a talented young team, and it made him feel like a homecoming would be cool.
What if he came back to Pittsburgh, where he lives year-round, to help with a second renaissance for the Pirates? Something along the lines of what happened in 2013-15 when the Pirates reached the postseason each year and McCutchen was the National League MVP in ’13.
So, McCutchen called Pirates owner Bob Nutting and said he wanted to come home. The sides agreed on a one-year, $5-million contract with the idea that he would finish his career with the Pirates. McCutchen has played under the same contractual terms in 2024 and again this season.
However, the Pirates haven’t won the way McCutchen expected. They were 76-86 in 2023 and 2024 and have fallen to 67-89 with six games remaining this season.
McCutchen reiterated last weekend that his preference remains finishing his career with them. However, McCutchen also left the door ajar to sign with another team this upcoming winter, possibly.
“We’ll see what happens,” he said. “Obviously, a lot of that stuff is out of my control, so I just need to do my part. I do want to continue playing, so wherever that may be. I’m looking forward to seeing where the offseason takes me. We’ll move on from there. I’ve got six games left, so I’ll try to finish the season strong.”
Of course, the Pirates could decide against re-signing McCutchen despite the public backlash they might face. He is 38 years old and has been exclusively a designated hitter since making the last of his seven appearances this season in the outfield on May 12.
McCutchen is a league-average hitter at this stage, too, not the player who made five straight All-Star Game appearances from 2011-15. McCutchen has hit 242/.346/.393 with 45 home runs for the Pirates in the three seasons of his second stint in Pittsburgh.
McCutchen usually keeps things close to the vest when dealing with the media, so it isn’t easy to know exactly what he is thinking. However, two things are certain: he isn’t getting any younger and has yet to play in the World Series or even a League Championship Series in his 17-year career.
Every player wants to win at least one World Series ring. McCutchen hasn’t been close to ever winning one.
Reality may be hitting McCutchen after nearly three seasons that the Pirates don’t look close to ending a World Series drought that stretches to 1979.
The three-game sample size in 2022 was enticing. The three-season sample size from 2023-25 has been deflating.
It will be interesting to see how the winter plays out with a franchise icon.