Andrew McCutchen signs Minor League deal with Rangers

Former Pirates star given unceremonious departure from Pittsburgh

Published on Mar. 12, 2026

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After three years of one-year contracts with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Andrew McCutchen will not be returning to the team in 2026. The former National League MVP has signed a Minor League deal with the Texas Rangers and will compete for a spot on their roster during Spring Training. McCutchen voiced his frustrations on social media about the lack of communication from the Pirates' organization and not being given a proper farewell tour.

Why it matters

McCutchen is one of the best players in Pirates history, having spent the first nine seasons of his career in Pittsburgh and leading the team to the playoffs in 2013. His unceremonious departure is seen as another disappointment for the struggling franchise, which appears to be making an effort to improve but still couldn't find a way to properly honor one of its all-time greats.

The details

McCutchen, 39, signed one-year deals with the Pirates in each of the past three offseasons, but the team did not bring him back this year. Instead, they signed Marcell Ozuna to be their designated hitter. In a now-deleted social media post, McCutchen voiced his frustrations with the lack of communication from the Pirates' front office and not being given a proper farewell tour, something other star players have received from their longtime teams.

  • McCutchen signed a Minor League contract with the Texas Rangers on March 9, 2026.
  • The Pirates signed Marcell Ozuna in early February 2026.

The players

Andrew McCutchen

A nine-time All-Star and the 2013 National League MVP, McCutchen spent the first nine seasons of his MLB career with the Pittsburgh Pirates before being traded in 2018. He returned to the Pirates on one-year deals in 2023, 2024, and 2025 but was not brought back for 2026.

Ben Cherington

The general manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates, who commented on McCutchen's status with the team after they signed Marcell Ozuna.

Marcell Ozuna

An outfielder who the Pirates signed in early 2026 to be their designated hitter, effectively replacing McCutchen on the roster.

Texas Rangers

The team that signed McCutchen to a Minor League contract, giving him a chance to earn a spot on their 2026 roster.

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What they’re saying

“As far as I'm concerned, Andrew will always be a Pirate. I think most people feel that way. I certainly speak for the organization and that's how we feel, that no matter what Andrew is a Pirate, and certainly our desire will be to continue to have a really strong relationship with him into the future, whatever that looks like.”

— Ben Cherington, General Manager, Pittsburgh Pirates (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

“I wonder, did the Cards do this Wainwright/Pujols/Yadi? Dodgers to Kershaw?Tigers to Miggy? The list goes on and on. If this is my last year, it would have been nice to meet the fans one last time as a player. Talk to them about my appreciation for them over the years. Shake that little kids hand or hug the fan that's been a fan since Clemente.”

— Andrew McCutchen (X (social media)

What’s next

The Texas Rangers will evaluate McCutchen during Spring Training to determine if he will make their 2026 roster. If he makes the team, McCutchen could face the Pirates in a home series from April 21-23.

The takeaway

McCutchen's unceremonious departure from the Pirates, a franchise he helped revive and led to the playoffs, is a disappointing end to his time in Pittsburgh. The team's failure to properly honor one of its all-time greats highlights the ongoing struggles of an organization that has long failed to capitalize on its rare windows of competitiveness.