Pittsburgh Pirates legend Andrew McCutchen has received a brutal decision for his career.
Former Pittsburgh Pirates star and franchise legend Andrew McCutchen has been designated for assignment by the Texas Rangers. The Rangers will now trade, release, or send him down to the minor leagues.
McCutchen appeared in 37 games for Texas this season, slashing .192/.277/.260 with one home run, five RBIs, and a .537 OPS. The 39-year-old is in his 18th season in the big leagues, and this move by the Rangers puts his future in question.
Although McCutchen is a former All-Star, he has struggled this season, and a team may not pick him up.
If this is the end of McCutchen's career, he will be celebrated as one of the greatest Pirates players of all time.
Pittsburgh selected McCutchen with the 11th overall pick in the 2005 MLB Draft. McCutchen played 12 seasons in a Pirates uniform and was a five-time All-Star, a four-time Silver Slugger, and an MVP in the 2013 season.
In that MVP season, McCutchen was elite, slashing .317/.404/.508 with 21 home runs, 84 RBIs, 27 stolen bases, and a .911 OPS while leading the MLB in WAR at 7.8. He was one of the best hitters in baseball and a great defender at his position.
He spent his first nine seasons in Pittsburgh before playing for the San Francisco Giants, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, Milwaukee Brewers, and then returning to the Pirates for three seasons.
Charles LeClaire-Imagn ImagesIn the 2025 season with Pittsburgh, McCutchen slashed .239/.333/.367 with 13 home runs, 57 RBIs, and a .700 OPS. While it wasn't the numbers of his prime, he was still a solid bat in the lineup.
McCutchen's career as a whole is impressive, as he slashed .271/.364/.455 with 333 home runs, 1,157 RBIs, 220 stolen bases, and an .819 OPS.
He had a great prime, and he will be a fringe candidate for the Hall of Fame. Regardless of whether he makes it, he has had a tremendous impact on the Pirates.
It's unknown if McCutchen's time with the Rangers was his last stop as a Major Leaguer, but it's clear that he is near the end of a storied MLB career.
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