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Andrew McCutchen is a Pittsburgh Pirates legend, but he’s unhappy with the franchise after not being invited to their annual fan party before the start of the 2026 MLB season.
McCutchen played 12 of his 17 MLB seasons in Pittsburgh, including the last three campaigns. He won the National League MVP there in 2013, but the current free agent was not invited to interact with fans at their annual event.
McCutchen hyped the Pirates on social media, comparing himself to other team legends around the league who travel to the functions set up each year.
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Andrew McCutchen of the Pittsburgh Pirates watches from the dugout during the game between the Chicago Cubs and the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on Monday, September 15, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photos by Joe Sargent/MLB)
“I wonder if the Cards did that [to Adam] Wainwright/[Albert] Pujols/Yadi [Molina]? Dodgers at [Clayton] Kershaw? Tigers to Miggy [Miguel Cabrera]? The list goes on and on,” McCutchen wrote on X.
“If it was my last year, it would have been nice to meet the fans one last time as a player.”
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Pirates general manager Ben Cherington was asked about McCutchen’s absence at the fan festival, where he got the response from the media.
“Andrew meant a lot to the team,” he responded, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “He’s had an incredible run at two different times. Certainly his legacy as a Pirate is assured. Everyone at the Pirates, we want to maintain a very good relationship with Andrew in the future.”
Andrew McCutchen #22 of the Pittsburgh Pirates watches a fan fall from the stands during the seventh inning against the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park on April 30, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
McCutchen, 39, remains a free agent, but wants to play in 2026. Many believe he will be back with the Pirates for perhaps his final MLB season, but that did not materialize just weeks before spring training.
“The job is to build a team that gives us the best chance of winning games when you’re at the stadium in June and July,” Cherington said. “Our approach this offseason has been focused on what gives us the best chance to win more baseball games in Pittsburgh than in previous seasons. That’s going to continue to guide our decisions. So much respect for Andrew. This relationship is really important to us.
“We will continue to communicate directly with him as the team comes together.”
Andrew McCutchen of the Pittsburgh Pirates goes to first base against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on September 13, 2025 in Washington, DC. (G Fiume/Getty Images)
McCutchen slashed just .239/.333/.367 with a .700 OPS in 135 games for Pittsburgh last season.
For this Pirates career, McCutchen hit .281/.372/.467 with an .839 OPS, 248 home runs, 351 doubles and 875 RBIs in 1,713 career games.
