McCutchen back in NL Central on one-year deal with Brewers

Updated Mar. 16, 2022 10:49 a.m. ET

Associated Press

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Andrew McCutchen is heading back to the NL Central after agreed to a one-year ontract with the Milwaukee Brewers.

The Brewers announced they have finalized a agreement with the five-time All-Star outfielder. McCutchen spent the first nine years of his career in the NL Central with Pittsburgh and won the 2013 NL MVP.

“We are excited to have Andrew continue his tremendous Major League career in Milwaukee,” Brewers president of baseball operations David Stearns said in a statement. “Andrew brings a quality right-handed bat to our lineup, a wealth of experience, and a valuable veteran clubhouse presence.”

McCutchen, 35, joins an outfield that already includes 2018 MVP Christian Yelich, two-time All-Star Lorenzo Cain and Hunter Renfroe, who was acquired from the Boston Red Sox before the lockout. The Brewers also return Tyrone Taylor, who had a .778 OPS in 93 games last season.

But the adoption of a designated hitter in the NL should give the Brewers opportunities to play more than three of them at the same time.

The addition of McCutchen also provides insurance in case of injury. Cain played just 78 games and Yelich appeared in 117 games last season.

McCutchen isn’t playing at the All-Star level that he consistently showed during his Pittsburgh seasons, but he showed last season he can still fill a useful role.

He batted .222 with 27 homers and 80 RBIs while posting a .334 on-base percentage and .444 slugging percentage in 144 games with the Philadelphia Phillies last season. But he hit .293 with a .405 on-base percentage against left-handers.

McCutchen also has a history of performing well in Milwaukee. He has batted .289 with a .350 on-base percentage, 23 homers and 61 RBIs at American Family Field.

After playing for the Pirates from 2009-17, McCutchen has been with the San Francisco Giants (2018), New York Yankees (2018) and Phillies (2019-21).

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