Former MVP Andrew McCutchen returns to Pittsburgh, per report

Former Phillies outfielder Andrew McCutchen is returning to Pittsburgh, the city where he began his career and rose to stardom.

The 36-year-old has agreed to a one-year deal with the Pirates, according to a Friday morning report from Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, allowing him to rejoin the club he played for from 2009-2017.

McCutchen, a first-round pick by the Pirates in 2005, became one of the most beloved players in team history in his first nine seasons in Pittsburgh as he emerged as one of the top center fielders in the majors. He made five All-Star teams, won four Silver Slugger Awards, earned a Gold Glove and won the 2013 National League MVP during that stretch. That MVP campaign helped Pittsburgh make the postseason for the first time since 1992.

A highly respected figure in the community in Pittsburgh as well, McCutchen won the Roberto Clemente Award in 2015 for his contributions on and off the field.

Following a solid — but far from elite — 2017 season for the outfielder, the Pirates traded McCutchen to San Francisco for his final year under contract. He was then traded to the Yankees in August to finish out the season.

Hitting free agency, McCutchen signed a three-year, $50 million contract with the Phillies before the 2019 season to play left field and be the team’s leadoff hitter. He got off to a tremendous start with an .834 OPS in his first 59 games, but an ACL tear in his left knee ended his year and affected the remainder of his tenure in Philadelphia.

McCutchen signed a one-year deal with the Brewers for 2022, putting up a .700 OPS in 134 games.

Perhaps at the closing stages of his career at this point, he’ll have a chance to go back where it all started in 2023.

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