North Shore Nine

Andrew McCutchen has never been afraid to speak his mind, and his latest comments might be the strongest reminder yet that the Pirates’ front office can’t keep doing business as usual. Sitting down with DK Pittsburgh Sports’ Jose Negrón, Cutch made it clear: if the Pirates want to win, they have to spend. He wasn’t taking a cheap shot, just laying out what everyone can see—the pitching staff is good enough to compete, but the lineup is nowhere close.

McCutchen, at 38, knows he’s no longer the superstar carrying the offense. He admitted he has to pull his weight to avoid “wasting a spot,” but he’s also still been one of the team’s steadier bats in a lineup that ranks near the bottom of MLB. His leadership, presence in the clubhouse, and the respect he commands from younger players like Liover Peguero can’t be overstated. But he’s right—this team needs more around him.

Tommy Pham echoed similar sentiments, saying the Pirates are close and need to buy into a philosophy of grinding out at-bats. His perspective carries weight, too—he’s been on both bad and playoff teams and knows the difference.

The question now: will ownership listen? Fans have heard variations of this speech for years, yet the roster remains filled with placeholders. With Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller, Jared Jones, and Bubba Chandler forming a playoff-caliber rotation, the window is here. McCutchen wants to finish his career chasing October in Pittsburgh. The Pirates owe it to him—and their fans—to make sure that actually happens.