The end for former Pittsburgh Pirates All-Star outfielder Andrew McCutchen may have come with a whisper.
According to the minor league transaction tracker, McCutchen was released from the Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers in the Atlanta Braves organization. McCutchen had signed a minor league deal with the Braves on July 2 after being released by the Texas Rangers earlier in the year.
A five-time All-Star and the 2013 NL MVP, McCutchen has spent 12 of his 18 years in the majors with the Pirates. He posted a .281/.372/.467 batting line in his 7,368 plate appearances in Pittsburgh, hitting 248 homers and 351 doubles while stealing 186 bases.
It may be time for Andrew McCutchen to retire on a one-day contract with the Pirates
Although he announced his intention to play this season, the Pirates did not have a spot on the roster. McCutchen signed as a non-roster invitee with the Rangers and earned a spot on the Opening Day roster. That stint did not last long as he produced a .192/.277/.260 batting line over his 83 plate appearances, hitting a home run and two doubles.
McCutchen fared better at Triple-A, albeit in a small sample size. He had 10 hits over his 32 plate appearances, hitting a home run and three doubles. That performance, coupled with a decent showing in 2025, could lead to an opportunity with a team looking for a right-handed platoon bat down the stretch.
However, at 39 years old, McCutchen’s best days are behind him. He is also essentially limited to designated hitter duties, making a possible role more difficult to find. At this point, it may be time for McCutchen to sign a one-day contract in Pittsburgh and retire as a member of the Pirates.
