Braves ink Andrew McCutchen to a minor-league contract
In an under the radar pickup involving a former league MVP, the Braves have inked a minor-league contract with Andrew McCutchen. Braves sign Andrew McCutchen to minors deal — Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 3, 2026 McCutchen is far from the player he was when he won the MVP a staggering 13 years ago. He hit […]
In an under the radar pickup involving a former league MVP, the Braves have inked a minor-league contract with Andrew McCutchen.
Braves sign Andrew McCutchen to minors deal
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 3, 2026
McCutchen is far from the player he was when he won the MVP a staggering 13 years ago. He hit just .192 with a .537 OPS in 37 games this season for the Texas Rangers, but he did post a respectable .700 OPS over 135 games with the Pirates last season and owns a .733 OPS since the start of the 2020 season.
The odds of him making a significant impact in Atlanta this season might not be very high, but there’s no denying the Braves are getting a little desperate for some offensive firepower with the trade deadline still a month away. The team has boasted an OPS below .600 since June began, and there really haven’t been many encouraging signs that point to this rut ending anytime soon.
Left field and the DH spots have been especially discouraging. Eli White has no business starting games, Mike Yastrzemski has a .644 OPS on the season, and Dominic Smith has come back to earth in a big way since he began the season on a tear.
There’s no guarantee McCutchen ever sees the light of day in Atlanta, but taking a flier on him to see if he has anything left in the tank comes with absolutely no risk. At the very least, perhaps his presence alone could help bring some much-needed positive vibes to the clubhouse.
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Photo: Terence Lewis/Icon Sportswire
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