North Shore Nine

Jason Mackey reports that the Pirates have agreed to a one-year deal with team legend and former MVP Andrew McCutchen that will have him earning $5 million for the 2024 MLB season. Pirates beat reporter Jason Mackey and national baseball writer Bob Nightengale both hinted that this deal was close to being done later last week, and today looks to be the day.

Cutch returned to the Steel City last year in black and gold for the first time since 2018, when he was dealt to the San Francisco Giants for Bryan Reynolds and Kyle Crick. In his return season, McCutchen enjoyed a career resurgence with his best numbers hitting since 2019. In 112 games, Cutch put up 1.5 bWAR and slashed .256/.378/.397/.776 and put up an OPS+ of 115. His season was cut short with an elbow injury that placed him on the IL in June and his season officially ended in early September when he partially tore his Achilles tendon. The Pirates are going to be depending on him to continue to provide a very valuable bat from the DH spot as they push towards a playoff spot this season.

This signing is a continuation of quite a busy week for the Pirates, who have secured 3 free agent signings and one trade since the end of the Winter Meetings. Cutch joins Marco Gonzales, Rowdy Tellez, Martin Perez, and Edward Olivares as the new batch of Pirates acquisitions. The Pirates 40 man is currently full, so 2 moves will have to be made for the corresponding signings of McCutchen and Perez. Keep your eyes out for trades that might be on the horizon as they add these 2 to the roster.

Dinardo and Jim discuss the potential Cutch signing here on our weekly Starbucs show.