The Pirates announced to reporters, including Justice delos Santos of MLB.com, that outfielder/designated hitter Andrew McCutchen is going on the 10-day injured list due to a partial tear in his left Achilles tendon. McCutchen will be in a walking boot for the next six weeks, meaning his season is done with less than four weeks now remaining on the schedule. The club later officially announced McCutchen’s IL placement with infielder Jared Triolo recalled in a corresponding move.
McCutchen, 36, returned to the Pirates this season on a one-year, $5MM deal. He had spent his prime with the Bucs but eventually bounced to the Giants, Yankees, Phillies and Brewers as the Pirates underwent a rebuild and gave most of the playing time to younger players. But he was able to don the black and gold again this year, serving as a veteran presence for a young team on the rise.
That’s not to say that his position on the roster was merely ceremonial, as he’s actually been the club’s best hitter this year. He’s drawn walks in 15.9% of his plate appearances and hit 12 home runs. His .256/.378/.397 batting line amounts to a wRC+ of 115, indicating he’s been 15% better than the league average hitter this year, the highest mark on the club among those with at least 10 plate appearances.
The Bucs are well out of contention at this point but it’s nonetheless a tough pill to swallow, given his popularity among the fans and around baseball in general. He’s also currently sitting on 299 home runs, meaning he won’t have a chance to cross that milestone this year.
Although that’s surely frustrating, it seems possible he’ll have a chance to hit that marker next year. He has continually been open about his desire to return to the Pirates next year and reiterated that stance today, via delos Santos. He seems to have a good relationship with the franchise, making it fair to expect the two sides to reunite on another deal for 2024. The injury creates some cloudiness about his status, but if the six weeks in the walking boot get him back to health, he should be in line to have a fairly normal offseason and Spring Training.
Defensively, McCutchen was primarily a designated hitter this year, only heading to the outfield for 64 2/3 innings. Though the club might want to give some playing time to younger players, they could surely find some at-bats for their best offensive contributor this year, especially considering his iconic status in Pittsburgh.
Bad news. I hope he recovers to play again.
He was having a good season but he hasn’t hit much since the end of June.
He’s had recurring elbow problems which also put him on the IL earlier in the season
The 299 forever club.
Cutch on a Crutch.
Slider without brains, Cutch isn’t ready for the pasture yet and has given the front office his desire to return next season so he may be stuck at 299 homers today, he’ll add to all of his offensive totals next year
No….actually this pretty much guarantees that he’ll be a Pirate next year.
Nutting recently said that he wanted to re sign Cutch to play next year, if only he would let both Shelton and Haines go instead
Starting a reliever against the Brewers with an ERA of almost 6, keeping Connor Joe out of the lineup despite hitting a 3 run homer in last night’s game, and playing Willians who can’t hit even using a telephone pole against the reigning NL pitcher of the month ( August).
They are going to get their rear ends kicked today
Ummmm…
Hate to be Captain Obvious, but nice jinx you put on the Brewers, yinzer.
He may have done it for that reason.
TheMan 3: Just goes to show that Pittsburgh dumpster dives extend beyond players.
I’d have to imagine with the lack of progession by the team, and the injury now , he might have second thoughts.
pirates were supposed to take a step forward this year.
but with Cruz going down and everyone else pretty much being a bust this year, things have gone about as bad as possible.
I think this decision will drag into sprint training
Go- I have to respectively disagree.You forget how awful they have been,and that last year was the year that they did not show any progress.
The team is actually starting to take shape in my opinion.
The question is can they get better under current management.
Will the owner pay for good players to fill holes
They have made progress over last year.Not as much as some 2022 losing teams,but progress.
They could not have gotten much worse.
Many busts for this year,but remember that these are almost all young players.They do not get good overnight unless they are very talented.
Cutch will be back,no question about it.At this point he would not make any more money with any other team.
It’s not a winning situation but they won’t lose 100 games as they did the previous 2 years as their current record indicates
There’s been some player regression but there’s also been a few players who’ve become better
Hayes is a perfect example.
His previous home run total in a season was 6 prior to 2023, since returning from the IL in August, his total on the year is 13. His lifetime batting average was .249 but this year since returning from the IL his average is closer to .270.
Keller has also finally become an elite pitcher
But this team has also had to endure injuries to key players, Cruz for one, and several pitchers they were counting on have been out all season
They lost possibility their best player in the first two weeks of the season. 4/5ths of their rotation was lost to injury (Brubaker & Velasquez), and outright shittyness (Contreras & Ortiz). Yet somehow they’ve already managed to win 2 more games than last season with something like 24 games remaining.
They’ve definitely taken a couple of big steps forward this year.
Corn- I will stand by what I said as guarded optimism,
I am not saying that they will make the WS ,nor even this watered down design of very expanded playoffs.
What I am saying is that they have the basis of young players that if they improve as they should under skilled coaching and managing should be very competitive and have a winning record.If the owner ponies up,and if management either greatly improves or changes.they will have a decent chance of doing that and even at making the playoffs.
I am saying Skenes will be up and pitch well within two months.BC is smart in shutting him off this year.
Oviedo is still a solid 5 or a strong 2.Keller is 1,and if they sign Gray,a solid 2.If Brubaker is healthy he can be a decent 4..
All of the other starters are fillins as necessary,and some will take hold.
I am especially excited about their bullpen.
They need to get a drill Sargent into spring training to eliminate stupid and fielding errors.They need to tell players the positions that they are going to play and stick to it.
They needed to do what they did this year in order to evaluate all of the players.They have done a good job of that.
What I am saying is that unless they rally screw up they will have a competitive team next year,which means at least around 500.
And that is better than several of the poorly run franchises who cannot get out of their own way.
I’m a firm believer in the core of this team, but question if youngsters like Endy and Davis will reach their respective potential under the guidance of the hitting coach, Andy Haines.
Much to many of our dismay, he’s coming back next year. Shelton supports his return, but I am not a fan of his either
Shelton sits players that are hot, and replaces them with never has-beens. He pulls his lineups out of a hat, doesn’t believe in small ball, especially of players with speed.
The team is last in runs scored and batting average in the NL. They’re close to last in home runs.
I’m 68, retired and have been a devout fan of the Pirates since 1966, before my time on earth expires, I would like to see another WS championship
Under the current management, I’m afraid my hope will never come to fruition
Yes,there a lot of ifs.
Most teams are in that category.
It always seemed to me that BC was collecting second basemen in the draft in the hope of finding another Rogers Hornsby or Bill Mazeroski instead of finding starting pitchers.His lack of foresight cost the Pirates this year in pitching and not getting another low cost free agent starter.Anyone who thinks that the starting five is going to last the year is crazy.
One thing that he has done well though is finding relatively good pitchers through the waiver wire or in minor trades.
I agree with you on Endy but he does need to concentrate on catching.That is plenty to concentrate on and I think that his hitting will come around.The pitchers do not seem to suffer from him being a rookie.
I understand what you mean about the pitching focus but they are not exactly the Lumber Company.Perhaos Joe Nunnaly can become the main hitting coach.He has certainly helped Hayes.
And I like that Cruz had his own coach and it seemed to start making a difference.
You and and I and The Man have been around too long to get too excited about this team.Once burned,twice shy,and 20 times burned,20 times shy.And I wouldn’t get too excited about the rest of this year as I think 72-74 is their absolute max.
One absolute telling statistic is Buuba and I and The Man have not had to be on “troll duty” this year.That tells me that perhaps our long regional nightmare could be finally over.
I’m sorry but there has been one World Champion from a small market since 1992.
Chances are 250 to 1 on average in any year against winning it.
Better odds to reach the WS as the American League has had seven teams reach it during that period.
We are going to have to be content with division championships which we have not had since,you guessed it,1992.
“Will the owner pay for good players to fill holes?”
answer no. they never will , never have.
gm gets 10 mil to fill the rotation and 10 mil to fill any other needs.
I’m hoping these Korean players lead to Ryu being the guy at SP.
love Ryu’s upside for this budget (thinking 36 over 3 ??)
if not, then pick one: Lance Lynn/Paxton/Carrasco/Martin Perez
does that fix the rotation?
next up , they got a hole at 1B.
pick one: Santana return/Brandon Belt/Joey Gallo
does that fix the lineup?
you don’t have to hold your breath,
I’m already preparing you for Martin Perez and Brandon Belt on 1 year deals.
(and Ryu if we’re extra lucky)
corn,
came here to retire he did.
my point was he should hang it up instead of dragging thru another rebuilding year with the Bucs.
this team is 2 more years away minimum.
plus he clogs up DH from Henry. this was a nice comeback season , but I personally wouldn’t even prefer him back
(not against his return , just would prefer Cutch retire)
TO BE CLEAR !!!
well not even will they ever, but when if so?
that’s my point about Cutch.
the team is 2 years away from those guys making an impact
next year will surely be a marginal upgrade over this year, nothing more.
why return for more of the same. can just retire and start up whatever pittsburgh career he had in mind
I respect your opinion, Goku, but you even admitted that the owner isn’t going to shell out millions for a free agent player that can help this team get over the hump
That said, Cutch’s presence sells tickets. Attendance increased this year on average of 5000 fans per game. Nutting likes that and if possible he will bring Cutch back for next season
Go- Not sure how much affect the Union lawsuit had on these owners but perhaps it helped Nutting to up his ante this year.I would like to see them get Sonny Gray at $45-50 M for three years,and sign Keller for $45-50 M for four years.
Ryu is 36 years old coming off Tommy John surgery.No way.
The other pitchers that you mentioned are done.As Bob Prince would say,”stick a fork in them”.
Remember that BC has to recommend these deals and I do not think that he is stupid enough to go after any of these guys,including the first basemen.
Maybe their days of dumpster diving are over.
And BC should not let Shelton talk him into Santana again.
“Ryu is 36”
…..they signed a 43, 37 & 36 year old this year.
.. I’d say I’m right on track with Ryu
yes, but I’m speaking of Cutches perspective.
of course they want him back.
my point has always been, why would Cutch come back?
They signed those guys for anywhere from $5M to $8M.
You want them to spend $39M on a recent seriously damaged older pitcher.
The Pirates will win a World Series before anything like that happens.
Cutch is revered here in Pittsburgh and he knows it. His wife is from the area, he and his family have a home north of the city and his own son is ironically named “ Steel”.
That’s not a coincidence
That’s why he’d want to come back
tbh I got skiddish for some reason and changed Ryu from 20/2yr. to 36/3yr.
but yes, I think Ryu’s upside is tremendous
(for a guy in the 8-12 mil range)
and I agree with your assessment of Sonny Gray at around 16.5 mil/yr… I just don’t see Nutting spending more than 12 mil/yr.
Nutting has been hesitant to pay more than 10 mil to more than one individual ,
so assumption is Reynolds extebsion took that slot , and Pirates will be bargain shopping for the rotation this offseson
I’m one who sees Reynolds contract as a blockade to Free Agent pickups , more than a sign of Nutting opening the books.
(I’m glad they got the deal done, resigning Reynolds was meaningful) but I don’t expect any big multi-year free agent deals over the span of his contract
GO- I cannot disagree with you on Nutting..He has spent money on Pirates before but I think getting burned on Liriano May have made him even more gun shy.
To me Gray has been good everywhere he has been except New York.
My guess is that it will take that much to get him as teams like the Cardinals will spend but as far as I am concerned Nutting owes it to Pirate fans to get a starter to get them over the hump.BC can work his magic finding another one year wonder.They are going to have to pay Keller also if they want to keep him.I am not convinced that any of these young pitchers will be studs except for Skenes.
theoldman? I’m 74 – working. before my earth time is up i
would like to see more care and kindness. Damn-it!! Also,
seeing the WS again would be bitchin!
As if that’s a bad thing, even though he can come back in 2024? Andres Galarraga and Al Kaline hit 399 and nobody made a big deal about that. These days, athletes are stat-crazy and the fans are worse. Nothing against Cutch, though. Love the guy. Hope he can make it back.
This one hurts. Get well soon Cutch.
Just don’t see the same orthopedic that did Mike Sorokas surgery is all I can tell ya.
I’m the medic for the beer league team I’m on, so let me know if you need help. I got some bandages and gummy worms to help you deal with the pain…
Career over. Clutch Cutch had one hell of a career. From superstar to very solid contributor. Too bad we will never see him hit a 300 career home run. Just 1 short.
too bad you don’t know this franchise or the owner’s desire to bring Cutch back next year
You must be related to Slider without Brains
SMH
little known fact about Cutch, he called the owner last winter and told him that he wanted to come back to play for the Pirates and would take a hometown discount to get a deal done
His family lives in the suburbs north of Pittsburgh, his wife is from the area and one of his children attends pre school here
Cutch is also a fan favorite, when he was introduced before the season opener, the home plate umpire allowed Cutch to take the time while the fans gave him a standing ovation
ya but question is will he make that decision again..
pirates aren’t showing any progress
gotta think it at least crosses his mind to step away from the game
Pirates aren’t showing any progress? Are you joking?
They’ve already won more games than last season and there are still 24 games left. They’ve improved almost entirely on the backs of the young kids on the roster outside of Cutch and a patch work starting pitching staff due to injuries and the yips.
They’re something like 25-20 over their last 45 games. If they continue to finish strong they’ll finish close to .500 and probably be a popular pick to make the playoffs next season. If Cutch wants to keep playing (sounds like he does), he’ll be a Pirate in a part-time role next season. Not even a question.
This org would bring back a one legged blind man if he was the right price.
if that was the case, they’d have brought back Josh Van Meter
It’s a partial Achilles tear, hardly a career-ender. His 112 OPS+ this season may have other plans.
What a dissapointing end to the year for him. Hope it’s not too serious, at least so he can return next year to hit #300. The two sides definitely want to come to an agreement.
He’ll be back. In fact, the Pirates know he should’ve never left or been traded. They OWE it to Cutch.
Let’s remember that Bucs got Bryan Reynolds in that deal. The deal looks even better since we have BOTH on the team. And Reynolds has been the better player each year both of them played after the trade. Plus Reynolds will still be a pirate king after Cutch is gone
Cutch will be back. Fans love him, excellent hitter in DH position all year, his body is a young 36 due to his work ethic, he wants to be here, he sells tickets and pirate gear, he gives back to the community, he is THE BEST MENTOR for this young team. He deserves a raise for next year to keep him. The only way I see him leaving is if management gives him a less than honest contract offer.
“The Pirates underwent a rebuild…” Darragh, they were bad from 2018 to 2022 and still are
The Pirates had a.winning record in 2018 and were decent the first half of 2019.
They have been decent the last half of 2023.
In between they were awful.
Trolls never get the facts straight.
If they got the facts straight, they wouldn’t have any reason for being a troll
I have found that trolls tend to be negative.Some just want to elicit a heated response.Some are just stupid and do not have anything intelligent to say.
There are several kind of trolls.
I personally dislike the arrogant ones.
I have also not noticed any AYF’s this year.I think that the great Pirate start to the season was like a late spring frost in killing off ticks.They are not the only team with arrogant fans though.
The Pirates did make some improvements this year but a number of things have to change for them to continue to improve to the point of being in contention for a division title.
Not a good sign limping off the field but this gives some more at bats to some of the young players,
They should not resign Cutch until the end of spring training next year to be able to use the 40 man IL 60- day space before he gets activated.
He was worth the money this year but veteran players tend to start getting injured more regularly and take longer to heal.
I would definitely take Cutch at 38 ( by the time next season starts) to worthless 27 year old Alfonso Rivas.
Not starting Andujar and Connor Joe in today’s game in favor of Rivas continues to make me believe that Shelton really doesn’t want to win games.
Joe hit a 3 run homer in last night’s game, Rivas was 0 for 5 in today’s game with 2 ks and Andujar got a run scoring pinch hit
They will never win with Shelton as manager and Haines as hitting coach.
It is a crime not to give Andujar consistent at bats,
The Pirates do have potentially good second line players in back of every position.Some of them will be in AAA,but all have potential if they can be coached properly and their positions are defined so that they can practice them to eliminate the errors that are so common with this team.
I am curious to see if Nutting will spend money to get a #2 starting pitcher this year.
I see Bido and Bolton losing out to Brubaker and Perdomo.Garcia and Velazquez will not be resigned unless later when they prove to be healthy
Capra will lose out to Cruz,and they will need CSN spot for a free agent,
Cutch should not be resigned until after spring training for them to be able to evaluate all of the young players.
It does not give them much room for free agents and Rule 5 protections if they have any.
Andujar isn’t in tonight’s lineup again and for the second straight game
But Alfonso Rivas, the.194 hitting first baseman is
SMH
Had multiple Achilles injuries myself, and they suck. Love this guy, heal up!
Love McCutchen and I’m not even a Pirates fan. Wishing him a speedy recovery
Sorry to hear this, wanted to see Cutch hit #300 and more this year.
He’ll be back hopefully sooner than later hopefully.
Really hope he makes it back healthier than ever. Good guy
Same leg he did his ACL on in 2019 when with the Phillies.
Cutch was never the same for the Phillies after that.
He hurt it in a rundown when he tried to juke out of the way of the tag.
That type of injury happens to older players and one of the reasons that few are worth the money that they get.
Today was game 140.They have 13 more wins than last year at game 140. 3 more than last season after 162. I’m not sure how you can say it’s not an improvement.
I agree that there’s been some improvement, Grumpofm, but they’re last in runs scored, batting average and next to last in home runs
Offensively they have regressed
Thanks Man. I agree that the hitting needs to improve a bunch. There is an article from 3 days ago, that shows numbers saying there’s improvement from last season somehow. But improvement on a 100 loss season shouldn’t be hard to do. I’m not completely sold that a complete revamp of the coaching and managing staff is needed yet. That’ll probably make me unpopular here, but I’ve never been one of the cool kids.
guy that age coming back from Achilles tear unlikely…
you write like an incoherent child, throw insults on other people’s family members then defend your actions by writing again like a petulant fool.
When I read nonsense regarding someone’s “ fortune and the size of their house “ I come to the conclusion that he’s not only a fool but he’s also an insecure fool
Cornwhisperer
You’ll do nothing, CUCK.
I’ve probably passed you by in life 20 times over and I’m only in my early 30s. I’m so head in your rn it’s enjoyable watching you seethe with rage like the mental midget you are.
Provide an email, cuck..we’ll go from there.
TheMan 3
Your parents are probably rolling in their graves knowing that their son is a whiney little clown who simps for millionaires on a baseball site.
Go beg your idol McCutchen for 250k so you can take a ride on a sub to see the titantic. 🙂
Learn more to spell words properly before writing obnoxious nonsense
It’s spelled “ Titanic “
Furthermore, what would a poorly educated millionaire be doing offering his incoherent views on a baseball trade rumor site?
Shouldn’t you be flying your Cessna or taking a drive in your Bentley?
You’re a millionaire like Trump isn’t a liar
In addition to being a fragile little man you’re also a grammar fascist? Cool.
Also, what time is cornwhisperer coming over your house later? You 2 gonna give one another a reacharound while looking at Andrew McCutchen baseball cards?
The mute option sure is nice.
Now c0ckwhisperer crying to MLBTR like a victim after acting like a wannabe tough guy claiming he wants to meet irl. You’re soft. I’m obviously living rent-free in your thick head, snitch 🙂
You and that McCutchen worshipping simp “TheMan 3” are pathetic. 2 cringe, limp-wristed boomers who share their lame opinions seeking validation because in reality…both of you are weak little men.
TheMan 3
I’m pretty sure you own a Felipe Vázquez jersey….seems like your type of person.
The man 3, corn whisperer and Mendoza and myself are roughly the same age. We have followed the pirates since the mid 60s. I see a lot of improvement. And it really sucks about cutch. He will return next year.
Now for these two morons , slider with fumunga cheese and the crackhead moosehead. Two infantile punks who are lifeless spawns of trailer Park haven. Typical of keyboard tough guy wannabes. Making fun of ones deceased parents is typical playground BS. They probably both live in mommy and daddies basement . Chewing on frozen fish sticks and soiling their rubber diapers.
What is amazing to me is that all four of us have kept our youthful good looks!
And making remarks like who’s house is bigger or more expensive is BS. Who cares. Who cares that you still live in the basement at age 30.
I don’t post here as often as I used to, because of trash, like these two. ITS A BASEBALL WEBSITE, NOT A TRAILER PARK PLATFORM. YOU WANT TO Post CRAP, GO TO tRumps failing social platform
it is my honor and pleasure to use the mute option on you, Crackhead
Good riddance loser
You would know about crackheads with your mom having been one while she was around 🙂 bye!
Cutch will be back next year to hit #300 and lead the Pirates back to the postseason. Can’t wait.
Buc-Yes on the first one,bet on it.
Possibly on the second one,but don’t bet on it.
The Pirates have to make a number of changes and do a lot of things to have a reliable chance at making the playoffs next year.This should have been the five year goal but next year is the fifth year.
We will know a lot more about the second one at the end of Spring Training next year.
It’s an automatic strike one for 2023 with Haines returning as the hitting coach
Strike 2 is Shelton
Cutch wants to be here, the City generally wants him here, Bob wants him here. I would think Ben will be told that if there is an open spot to bring him back if he wants to continue. Given the current outlook I don’t think Ben would need much convincing.
Assuming health checks out of course.
Andujar, getting a rare start in last night’s game had 3 hits including a run scoring double
Knowing how Shelton hates productive players I predict Andujar won’t be in today’s lineup
Paul- Even the Pirates’ commentator said that Andujar is an rbi machine.
I saw one lineup a week or two ago where Shelton had Andujar batting fifth then the next day ninth.
I believe now that Shelton follows what the computer tells him.What statistics do not take into account is the deleterious affect of constantly moving players around in the order does.People like consistency.
I doubt that that is Shelton now that I think more about it but that he is told to use it.
He’s not in the lineup for today’s game as I predicted but it’s easy to predict Shelton’s lineup because he pulls them out of his a=+
I still don’t understand why Endy doesn’t play 1st when Delay is catching. Rivas isn’t part of the future so why not just use him either as a pinch hitter or defensive replacement later in the game
I find it hard to believe that Shelton is that stupid but I have been wrong before.
He may have something against Andujar personally.
It does seem sometimes that he does not want to win.
I find it incredible that they do not want to find out whether or not Andujar can hit major league pitching on a consistent basis.
I think that they do not want to overload Endy.We do not know how good he is at first base.Rivas is slick there.Plus Endy is not hitting much better than Rivas with less power.These young players are nearing the max that they have ever ever played so they may be getting tired and Shelton wants to save him for the extensive and wearing duties of catching.They also may think that Rivas is part of the future.
If Rivas is part of the future, they’re in more trouble than I thought
He has no power and strikes out on pitches nowhere close to the plate
He might be a slick defender but thst position historically is for a power hitter
And bringing in Selby when you’re only up by one run is baffling to me. Of course he blew the lead allowing 4 straight hits with 2 outs.
My last gripe, Palacios hits a leadoff triple and they fall to drive him in. Using Conor Joe as a pinch hitter instead of Andujar once again makes me wonder if Shelton really does have something against him.
This is on Shelton.
Who says that a manager cannot lose a game.
I had secretly thought that he was learning to use his bullpen since it has been a good one again,
But only Shelton reminds me that he can snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
But since Nutting adds “nutting” to the baseball knowledge and intelligence,and Cherington is in love with Shelton,we have no hope.
How ‘ bout those Steelers!
I can understand how Pirate fans develop bad attitudes with these clowns running the show.