Texas Rangers give Pittsburgh Pirates legend another chance with latest surprise signing

The Texas Rangers have agreed to a minor-league contract with former NL MVP Andrew McCutchen, according to the Dallas Morning News' Evan Grant. The deal is still pending a physical.

Andrew McCutchen hoping to make Rangers' Opening Day roster after signing minor-league deal

Since McCutchen's deal with Texas is a minor-league one, the Pirates legend still has to prove he's worthy of being on the big-league squad. Assuming he makes the team, McCutchen, a right-handed hitter, will be a platoon option at corner outfield and designated hitter and a veteran presence on the bench who can enter games as a pinch-hitter.

Last offseason, the Pirates signed McCutchen to a one-year, $5 million deal after he posted 0.8 bWAR and a .232/.328/.411 (106 OPS+) slash line in 120 games with the Pirates in 2024. McCutchen, who won the 2013 NL MVP Award, posted a lowly 0.1 bWAR and a .239/.333/.367 (95 OPS+) slash line in 2025.

Andrew McCutchen's strong stats vs. lefties should make Rangers' offense much better

Even though McCutchen's overall numbers last season weren't great, he should still make the Rangers a better team. In 2025, McCutchen had a 20.7% chase rate (92nd percentile) and 12.2% walk rate (88th percentile), and hit lefties at a solid .267/.353/.389 clip. The Rangers desperately need to improve against lefties this season, as the team hit just .225/.290/.363 against southpaws in 2025. McCutchen will be a great option to start at designated hitter over Joc Pederson when the Rangers are facing a lefty. The former Pirate could also occasionally play corner outfield while Nimmo serves as a designated hitter. Despite his older age, McCutchen posted 1 Out Above Average last year, proving he can still be a decent defender.

It seemed Mark Canha was going to be the Rangers' needed right-handed hitting platoon bat when Texas signed the outfielder/first baseman to a minor-league deal last month. But now that the Rangers are signing McCutchen, it's unlikely Canha, who is just 1-for-8 against lefties this spring, cracks Texas' Opening Day roster.

If Canha turns things around this spring and starts hitting lefties better, and McCutchen struggles, then Canha may win the battle. But McCutchen has a much stronger track record and offers a valuable bench presence as a former MVP and someone who many would argue belongs in Cooperstown one day. The Rangers certainly don't expect McCutchen to produce MVP numbers at this stage in his career; they hope he can be a solid platoon bat who can help mentor young players such as Wyatt Langford and Evan Carter.