Rangers sign former MVP to minor league deal

Pittsburgh Pirates legend and 2014 Nationwide League MVP Andrew McCutchen will don one other uniform in 2026. In response to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning Information, the 39-year-old is finalizing a deal to hitch the Texas Rangers. 

In response to USA Right now columnist Bob Nightengale, the contract is a minor league deal, with an invitation to spring coaching. 

McCutchen spent the previous three seasons in Pittsburgh and beforehand spent the primary 9 seasons (2009-17) of his profession with the Pirates. Apart from the Pirates, McCutchen spent 2018-22 with 4 different large league golf equipment: the Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants and Milwaukee Brewers. 

In his closing season in Pittsburgh, McCutchen batted .239 with a .700 OPS and 13 house runs in 135 video games. 

Andrew McCutchen ought to supply the Rangers a top quality large league hitter 

Regardless of McCutchen signing a minor league contract, he has a superb probability of constructing the Rangers’ 26-man roster as a possible platoon bat. Outfielder Wyatt Langford has been okay to start out his large league profession (.247 common, .758 OPS), and heart fielder Evan Carter is a query mark as he’s handled a handful of accidents over the previous couple of seasons. Carter, in his first three seasons, has solely performed 131 video games.  

The Rangers additionally traded for outfielder Brandon Nimmo, who will play in both left area or proper area. McCutchen has performed simply 20 video games within the outfield the previous few seasons, so he doubtless would supply the Rangers a fourth outfield bat to play every now and then or an appropriate platoon bat to pair with designated hitter Joc Pederson. 

Andrew McCutchen ought to by no means have worn one other uniform aside from the Pirates

The Pirates have a document of 516 wins and 677 losses since McCutchen was traded to the San Francisco Giants forward of the 2018 season. The take care of the Giants netted the Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds.

On the tail finish of the 2025 season, there was no communication from the higher-ups of the Pirates and McCutchen’s camp about whether or not he could be again for the 2026 season or not. Being a Pirates legend — third in house runs (248), ninth in hits (1,781), and sixth in RBI (875) — McCutchen ought to have by no means been allowed to go away the Pirates and been given the choice of getting one-year offers till he determined to retire. 

McCutchen would have been a strong fourth outfielder for the Pirates and an amazing veteran presence of their younger clubhouse. As a substitute, he’ll supply such providers to the Rangers.