MLB

MLB Offseason Round-Up: McCutchen Returns to Pirates, Yankees Add Jeter

Published

4 months ago

December 20, 2023

Andrew McCutchen, Pittsburgh Pirates, MLB offseason

This is one in a series of daily articles highlighting the latest news and notes from the MLB offseason.

The Pittsburgh Pirates busy month of December continued on Tuesday in a widely-expected move. The Pirates have brought back Andrew McCutchen on a one-year deal worth $5 million, a source confirmed to Pittsburgh Baseball Now.

It will be McCutchen’s second-straight season back in Pittsburgh after he returned to the Pirates on an identical deal last MLB offseason. McCutchen was drafted in the first round by the Pirates in 2005 and played with the Bucs from 2009-17. He split the 2018 season between the San Francisco Giants and New York Yankees and made stops in Philadelphia (2019-21) and Milwaukee (2022) between his stints with the Pirates.

Last season, McCutchen hit .256 with a .378 on-base percentage and a .776 OPS in 112 games. He registered 19 doubles, 12 home runs, 43 RBIs and 11 stolen bases before his season was cut short due to a partial tear of his left Achilles.

McCutchen crossed the 2,000 career hit threshold in June of last season and is one home run away from reaching 300 for his career.

The fan-favorite and veteran leader figures to be the primary designated hitter for the Pirates in 2024.

JETER TO YANKEES

No, the five-time World Series champion, 14-time All-Star and Hall of Famer Derek Jeter did not come out of retirement to return to the New York Yankees.

The Yankees claimed infielder Jeter Downs off waivers from the Washington Nationals on Tuesday and added him to their 40-man roster. Downs, a former top prospect, appeared in six games for the Nats last season. He recorded two hits in five at-bats (.400), drew four walks and stole two bases.

Interestingly enough, the Yankees now have two pieces of the Mookie Betts trade from the Boston Red Sox to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Downs and outfielder Alex Verdugo.