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Milwaukee Brewers Sign Former NL MVP Andrew McCutchen

By Paul Bretl

Sep 24, 2021; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies left fielder Andrew McCutchen (22) reacts as he rounds the bases after a three-run home run from shortstop Didi Gregorius (not pitctured) in the seventh inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 24, 2021; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies left fielder Andrew McCutchen (22) reacts as he rounds the bases after a three-run home run from shortstop Didi Gregorius (not pitctured) in the seventh inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports /
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With free agency underway, the Milwaukee Brewers check another box on the positional-need to-do list, bolstering their outfield depth with the reported signing of Andrew McCutchen.

The 35-year-old McCutchen has been in the big leagues since 2009 and will be familiar to Brewers fans as he spent the first nine years of his career in the division playing with Pittsburgh. During that span, McCutchen was a five-time All-Star, the NL MVP in 2013, a gold glove winner, and a four-time Silver Slugger Award winner.

Since leaving Pittsburgh following the 2017 season, McCutchen bounced around a little before finding a home in Philadelphia for the last three years. From 2018 to 2020, he would slash .255/.361/.433 with an OPS+ of 116 and 40 home runs.

In 2021, we would see McCutchen’s batting average fall somewhat significantly to .222, but he still finished with an above-average OPS+ of 109, 27 home runs, 24 doubles, and a walk rate of 14.1%, according to Fangraphs.

McCutchen will provide the Milwaukee Brewers offense with needed help against lefties.

Where McCutchen can have his biggest impact on this Brewers offense is against left-handed pitching. Last season, he would slash .293/.405/.622, totaling a 1.027 OPS, with 15 home runs against lefties. For some added context, as Will Sammon of The Athletic pointed out, Milwaukee ranked 23rd last season as a team with an OPS of .706 against left-handers.

It’s also worth noting that McCutchen has played 77 career games at American Family Field and has faired well, logging a .289 average, a .931 OPS, and 23 home runs.

McCutchen will join Tyrone Taylor as off the bench options in an outfield led by Christian Yelich, Lorenzo Cain, and Hunter Renfroe, giving the Brewers some very good depth to lean on. McCutchen also has big league experience at all three outfield positions–although he spent all of his time the last two seasons in left field.

In addition to playing in the outfield, we could also see McCutchen in the DH role, especially against left-handed pitching. If the Brewers do not sign any one player to fill that specific role, then the DH will likely be filled by a committee of players.

At this time, we do not know the contract details for McCutchen’s deal with the Milwaukee Brewers.

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