Andrew McCutchen can make 2 former teams pay the price in Rangers' Opening Day lineup

Andrew McCutchen, who signed a minor-league deal with Texas earlier in the month, made the Rangers' Opening Day roster after a strong spring training where he slashed .429/.556/.714 with one homer, three doubles and seven RBI over 27 plate appearances. Notably, the 2013 NL MVP went 5-for-6 against southpaws.

For now, McCutchen, 39, will likely mainly serve as the designated hitter when the opposing starting pitcher is a lefty. He'll also be a good bat off the bench when a southpaw is brought out of an opposing team's bullpen. If McCutchen continues to rake, he could also frequently find himself in the lineup against righties, especially if Joc Pederson's struggles continue.

Since the Philadelphia Phillies are rolling with a lefty, Cristopher Sánchez, as their Opening Day starting pitcher against the Texas Rangers at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Thursday afternoon, McCutchen should be in the Opening Day lineup.

McCutchen can make Phillies, Pirates pay the price in Rangers' Opening Day lineup

The Phillies are a familiar team for McCutchen, as he played for the NL club from 2019 through 2021. He became a free agent after Philadelphia declined his club option for the 2022 season. While it's been a long time since he's suited up for the Phillies, McCutchen can make them wish he were still on their team if his spring performance translates to Opening Day.

After his stint with Philadelphia, McCutchen played one season for the Milwaukee Brewers before returning to the Pittsburgh Pirates. McCutchen's second stint with Pittsburgh spanned from 2023 through 2025.

McCutchen is a Pirates legend. He originally played for the organization from 2009 through 2017 before spending the 2018 season with the San Francisco Giants and the New York Yankees. During his 12 seasons with the Pirates, McCutchen posted 42.7 bWAR, a .281/.372/.467 (130 OPS+) slash line, 248 home runs, 351 doubles and 875 RBI. With 49.1 career bWAR and 52.3 fWAR, McCutchen isn't guaranteed to make the Hall of Fame, but he certainly has a decent chance. A strong 2026 season with Texas could improve his odds of one day making it into Cooperstown.

Despite McCutchen being a Pirates legend, Pittsburgh made him upset by not inviting him to its annual fan fest during the offseason, when the former MVP was a free agent.

"I wonder, did the Cards do this [to Adam] Wainwright/[Albert] Pujols/Yadi [Molina]? Dodgers to [Clayton] Kershaw? Tigers to Miggy [Miguel Cabrera]? The list goes on and on," McCutchen wrote on X. "If this is my last year, it would have been nice to meet the fans one last time as a player."

The Pirates have made some moves to improve their offense this offseason, bringing in established hitters Ryan O'Hearn, Marcell Ozuna and Brandon Lowe. Still, it seems odd they didn't consider bringing McCutchen back on a minor-league deal, given what he's done for the organization. If McCutchen has a strong Opening Day performance and a solid season, the Pirates may regret letting him walk in free agency.