Pittsburgh Pirates: Is Andrew McCutchen worth that $5 million?

The MLB Hot Stove’s recent days have brought us both the feel-good and feel-bad stories of this offseason. The feel-bad story, of course, involves the possibility of Trevor Bauer being signed by some desperate team, so let’s forget that and consider for a moment Andrew McCutchen “returning home” to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

As Kevin Henry notes, Pirates fans will have some nice moments this summer as McCutchen closes in on some milestone numbers. He will likely register 2,000 hits and 400 doubles, and could touch 300 home runs. Pirates’ fans haven’t had much to cheer about since Barry Bonds and Bobby Bonilla left 30 years ago.

Will Andrew McCutchen be overpaid for his happy reunion with the Pittsburgh Pirates?

For his age-36 season, Andrew McCutchen will make $5 million, and feel-good story or not, the question has to be asked: Is that a good way for a perennially struggling team to spend $5 million?

That contract would have made Cutch the third-highest paid Bucs player in 2022. And that would have been by better than $3 million over Pirate Number 4, shortstop Kevin Newman at $1.95 million.

That much, then, for a guy who hit .222 and .237 the past two years for Philadelphia and Milwaukee? These two teams were two and 10 games, respectively, over .500 and neither made the playoffs.

OK, time to slow the feel-bad roll. Neither the Phillies nor Brewers likely belonged in the playoffs in ’21 and ’22, respectively, and the Phillies likely wouldn’t have had a winning record without Bryce Harper, but both teams did have winning records, and McCutchen contributed.

Moreover, this is Andrew McCutchen, the player the term “intangibles” was coined for. If you look up “positive clubhouse presence” in the dictionary, you see McCutchen’s picture.

Don’t believe that? See if you can find a negative story about the former MVP’s career in MLB. Try googling “negative stories Andrew McCutchen.” When I did that, the top story was about the player not “appear[ing]” as “healthy” as he tried to present himself … nearly eight years ago.

This is the guy who talked to the cardboard cutouts in Citizens Bank Park seats during the no-fans, pandemic season, very likely because he knew the TV cameras would probably pick it up. And they did.

This is a guy who enjoys playing baseball. Since baseball is entertainment for the fans, this attitude is helpful. McCutchen even enjoys photo day. Take a look at his goofy Brewers portrait on his Baseball Reference page before they put him in a Pirates cap.

Moreover, this is not just about intangibles from an aging star. It is true that in ’21 and ’22 McCutchen’s batting averages were far below his peak years nearly a decade ago. But, in these recent seasons, the outfielder added 44 homers and 149 RBI to his career totals.

At this point in his career, the once whip-thin speedster is a power hitter. He has always been at some level, but in his earlier years Pirates fans were probably squinting too hard to see Roberto Clemente 2.0 in him, to see a legendary fielder.

McCutchen has won one Gold Glove. Clemente won 12.

No, the outfielder’s highest value has always been in the power in his quick hands. His career OPS is .838, well over the league average … forever. Yes, his posting dropped in ’22. The Pirates are betting there’s a rebound this year. But even if there isn’t, what will happen?

Not only will Andrew McCutchen put some butts in seats in Pittsburgh this season and make the Pirates some money — who knows? — perhaps, under his influence, the Bucs will have their first winning season since 2018.