Outfielder Andrew McCutchen is returning to the state of Pennsylvania, but it'll be with a new National League team this time around. The former Pittsburgh Pirates star agreed to a three-year deal with the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday. The contract is reportedly worth $50 million, and does include a team option for the 2022 season. This comes one season after the 32-year-old was dealt to the New York Yankees mid-season, his first with the San Francisco Giants, where he helped New York to the top Wild Card spot in the American League. Unfortunately for them, they could not get past the Boston Red Sox in the ALDS after a Wild Card victory over the Oakland Athletics.
The 32-year-old finished last season with a .255 average, 20 home runs, and 65 RBIs in 155 games last season. He was acquired from San Francisco on August 31st and hit .253 with five home runs in 25 games with New York.
The five-time All-Star could still have some greatness left in him, since he did win the 2013 National League MVP Award. He led the Pirates to the Postseason every year from 2013 to 2015, but was traded to San Francisco after the 2017 season. In his final three seasons with Pittsburgh, he played in at least 153 games in every one of them. His MVP season saw him put up a .317 batting average with 21 home runs and 84 RBIs. The season prior was even better, statistically, where he hit .327 with 31 home runs and 96 RBIs.
The Pirates' move was more so to help McCutchen, as they struggled in his final two seasons, posting records of 78-83 and 75-87 respectively. The team has attempted a bit of a rebuild, which took an extension out of the question at the time for the outfielder. He now joins a Phillies team that were surprising Postseason contenders a season ago, which raises their expectations for the 2019 campaign.
The 32-year-old finished last season with a .255 average, 20 home runs, and 65 RBIs in 155 games last season. He was acquired from San Francisco on August 31st and hit .253 with five home runs in 25 games with New York.
The five-time All-Star could still have some greatness left in him, since he did win the 2013 National League MVP Award. He led the Pirates to the Postseason every year from 2013 to 2015, but was traded to San Francisco after the 2017 season. In his final three seasons with Pittsburgh, he played in at least 153 games in every one of them. His MVP season saw him put up a .317 batting average with 21 home runs and 84 RBIs. The season prior was even better, statistically, where he hit .327 with 31 home runs and 96 RBIs.
The Pirates' move was more so to help McCutchen, as they struggled in his final two seasons, posting records of 78-83 and 75-87 respectively. The team has attempted a bit of a rebuild, which took an extension out of the question at the time for the outfielder. He now joins a Phillies team that were surprising Postseason contenders a season ago, which raises their expectations for the 2019 campaign.
