The Pirates might be open to bringing back a beloved legend, but is it the right move for the team's future?
Andrew McCutchen, a player who has dedicated 12 of his 18 Major League seasons to the Pittsburgh Pirates, expressed his desire back in August to continue playing for the team in the upcoming season. He acknowledged that his performance in the 2025 season wasn't his best, stating, "I have to do what I need to do to…show that I was able to have a good year and still can play the following year." McCutchen made it clear he doesn't want to simply occupy a roster spot without making a meaningful contribution.
As McCutchen heads into his age-39 season, there hasn't been much chatter about his market, leading many to believe that a return to the Pirates is his most likely, if not only, option. When asked about McCutchen during the recent PiratesFest fan event, General Manager Ben Cherington addressed fans and reporters. He indicated that the team is still focused on building out the rest of the roster before making any decisions about McCutchen's role. Cherington emphasized McCutchen's significant impact on the team, saying, "Andrew has meant a ton to the team. He’s had an incredible run at two different times. Certainly his legacy as a Pirate is secure." He added that the organization highly values its relationship with McCutchen and aims to maintain it long-term. However, the primary objective remains building a team that offers the best chance to win games consistently throughout the season. The team's offseason strategy has been intently focused on achieving this goal, and this principle will continue to guide all decisions.
Cherington continued, "So much respect for Andrew. That relationship is really important to us. We’ll continue to communicate with him directly as the team comes together. We have more work to do."
In 2025, McCutchen posted a batting line of .239/.333/.367 with 13 home runs over 551 plate appearances, resulting in a 95 wRC+ (Weighted Runs Created Plus). This was only the second time in his distinguished career that his wRC+ fell below 100, which signifies league-average offense. His advanced metrics from Statcast also generally hovered around average, with the notable exception of a strong 12.2% walk rate.
These offensive numbers, particularly for a player who primarily serves as a designated hitter (DH) at this stage of his career (he played only 20 outfield games during his recent return to Pittsburgh), are not ideal. The Pirates appear to have already addressed the DH position by signing Ryan O’Hearn, who might share duties at first base and DH with Spencer Horwitz. Both O’Hearn and Horwitz are left-handed hitters. This could potentially leave room for McCutchen as a part-time right-handed bat, perhaps utilized against left-handed pitching.
But here's where it gets controversial... While McCutchen's 2025 numbers were underwhelming, his 95 wRC+ still ranked fourth among all Pirates hitters last season. This statistic starkly highlights the offensive struggles the team faced. If McCutchen were any other player, the decision to move on from an aging DH would likely be straightforward. However, parting ways with a franchise icon like McCutchen is a difficult prospect for both Cherington and owner Bob Nutting, unless it becomes absolutely necessary or McCutchen decides to retire on his own terms. A significant part of McCutchen's motivation for returning to Pittsburgh before the 2023 season was his desire to be part of a winning era, yet the team has endured seven consecutive losing seasons and is still working to emerge from its rebuild.
And this is the part most people miss... The Pirates' primary focus this offseason has been to bolster their offense. With additions like O’Hearn, Brandon Lowe, Jhostynxon Garcia, and Jake Mangum, the team hopes to have significantly improved its offensive ceiling and floor. Of course, a bounce-back performance from Bryan Reynolds or Oneil Cruz from their disappointing 2025 seasons would also be a massive boost.
Ideally, the team would break through to at least a winning record, and perhaps even a playoff berth, with McCutchen still a part of the roster. While McCutchen's previous one-year contracts with the Pirates were typically signed earlier in the offseason, there is still ample time before Spring Training for a new agreement to be reached.
What do you think? Should the Pirates prioritize nostalgia and the emotional connection with a beloved player like Andrew McCutchen, or should they focus solely on building the most competitive roster for the future, even if it means moving on from a franchise icon? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
