Yesterday, my colleague Charles-Alexis Brisebois reported that Andrew McCutchen is back with the Pirates, the team that drafted him in 2005.
The news was confirmed last night: McCutchen signed a one-year contract, worth five million dollars.
After spending the first nine years of his career with the Pirates, McCutchen has been walking around a lot in the last few years. The Pirates traded McCutchen to the Giants for surprise Bryan Reynolds. The Giants must bite their fingers today! McCutchen remained with the Giants for most of the 2018 season, before landing with the New York Yankees to end the season.
He then ended up in Philadelphia for three years, much to the chagrin of Pittsburgh fans. Remember that the Pittsburgh-Philadelphia rivalry is very similar to that of Quebec-Montreal, or Montreal-Boston.
In 2022, McCutchen was in Pittsburgh’s division rivals Milwaukee, giving fans a chance to see McCutchen in Pittsburgh multiple times throughout the season. A taste of what was to come for them.
McCutchen’s return to Pittsburgh does not go unnoticed. As a Pirates fan, I get chills.
McCutchen has never won the World Series. Undoubtedly close to retirement at 35, he preferred to return home. McCutchen’s love for Pittsburgh is not unheard of. His wife Maria is from that city, he lives there during the off season, and his first son is called Steel McCutchen (Pittsburgh is the city of steel – Steel). He is also involved in his community.
For a team that is struggling, this return is good. Is this a way for the Pirates to hide a fairly quiet offseason in terms of signings? May be. But one thing is certain: I expect to see more people heading to the stadium. Now all I have to do is convince my dad to go to Pittsburgh with me this year.
Speaking of the Pirates, let’s recall the few transactions they have made in recent months. First, they got Ji-Man Choi from the Rays in exchange for a pitcher, Jack Hartman. Then they signed Carlos Santana.
But one thing remains uncertain: Bryan Reynolds’ future in Pittsburgh.
The signing of Andrew McCutchen is good for the fans, but it solves very little of the Pirates’ problems. They remain a low ranked team, and I don’t expect them to make the playoffs.
I just hope McCutchen retires as a member of the Pirates.
