According to the Post-Gazette the Pittsburgh Pirates and Andrew McCutchen have agreed to a six year deal worth $51.5 million with a club option for $14.75 million. The contract buys out at least the first two years of free agency and will keep him in a Pirates uniform at least through the 2017 season.
More on this story in the morning as details develop.
UPDATE 2:07 PM: Rob Biertempfel has the breakdown of the deal. The Pirates will pay McCutchen $500 K in 2012, plus a $1.25 M signing bonus. He’ll get $4.5 M in 2013, $7.25 M in 2014, $10 M in 2015, $13 M in 2016, $14 M in 2017, and a $14.75 M option in 2018 with a $1 M buyout.
About John Dreker
John was born in Kearny, NJ, hometown of the 2B for the Pirates 1909 World Championship team, Dots Miller. In fact they have some of the same relatives in common, so it was only natural for him to become a lifelong Pirates fan. Before joining Pirates Prospects in July 2010, John had written numerous articles on the history of baseball while also releasing his own book and co-authoring another on the history of the game. He writes a weekly article on Pirates history for the site, has already interviewed many of the current minor leaguers with many more on the way and follows the foreign minor league teams very closely for the site. John also provides in person game reports of the West Virginia Power and Altoona Curve.
March 5, 2012 at 12:57 am
This is huge.
March 5, 2012 at 1:08 am
Woot!
March 5, 2012 at 1:39 am
Great news!
March 5, 2012 at 7:16 am
This is awesome. Dont take this as a complaint, becasue this is only a question becasue I know it never happens this way. Why dont the bucs frontload or even out the deal so he makes 9.2 million a year. i know no teams ever do this, but my thought is while the bucs have so much payroll room pay him more now and less later so they have more money to build around him. Again just a question and I know that no teams ever do this.
Twitter: timwilliamsp2
March 5, 2012 at 7:28 am
There’s a variety of reasons. Such a deal could cause problems with the player down the line. In year six he could be making $1 M while his teammates are making more, and the player could become disgruntled because he is “under-paid” (forgetting that he was over-paid in the earlier years). This kind of stuff has happened in the NFL.
The union probably wouldn’t like such a deal, since it distorts common contracts. They’d rather be able to say “Andrew McCutchen got a $14.75 M option at the age of 31, so we’ll use that as a starting point for Player A who is a similar player.”
There’s other potential reasons. A player signing a long term deal probably would want to stick around with that team. Having a bigger contract in the later years makes it harder to deal that player away.
Honestly, the Pirates don’t really need the flexibility. By the time the heavy lifting of McCutchen’s deal starts, the Pirates will be getting league minimum production from guys like Cole, Taillon, etc.
March 5, 2012 at 10:19 am
I’ve wondered the same thing. Thanks Tim, this is really helpful. And thanks for making it clear to Pirate Nation in previous why this is a good contract!
March 5, 2012 at 7:07 pm
I would think the club would always prefer to backload deals, since a dollar today is worth more than a dollar next year or five years down the road.
March 5, 2012 at 7:17 am
Fantastic news, even getting a 7th year is amazing! Gotta give it to NH, this was priority #1 this offseason and its done!
March 5, 2012 at 7:38 am
Great news. Walker should be next.
March 5, 2012 at 7:54 am
Incredible news! This sets up a Cutch, Tabata, Marte OF for years to come. …and having Presley also with Hernandez, Grossman, and Bell on their way this gives us a package of OF’s with tools like we haven’t had since the Bonds, Bonilla, Van Slyke days.
March 5, 2012 at 8:03 am
To quote Willie Mays Hayes, “Yes, Yes, Yes.”
March 5, 2012 at 8:56 am
…and thanks to Dave Littlefield…who drafted him.
March 5, 2012 at 9:17 am
Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while.
March 5, 2012 at 10:05 am
Like Pedro Alvarez?
March 5, 2012 at 1:43 pm
Pedro likes to eat nuts.
March 5, 2012 at 3:45 pm
….so does your mom
March 5, 2012 at 3:47 pm
…so I’m told
March 5, 2012 at 1:42 pm
Nice work, Dave.
March 5, 2012 at 10:26 am
Thank gawd I don’t have to read another post about the Pirates extending McCutchen anymore. Only problem now is listening to the Walker posts …..like the previous one in this thread.
March 5, 2012 at 10:44 am
This is very good news for fans of the Buccos!! Wasn’t sure we would see it come to fruition, but I am delighted that Cutch will be here long term. Maybe there is light at the end of the losing tunnel!?!
March 5, 2012 at 11:03 am
Great job Neal (signed, your biggest critic)
March 5, 2012 at 11:13 am
Blobbo???
March 5, 2012 at 12:58 pm
I def didnt see this getting done. I became a little more positvie recently with Cutchs bucconation gungho attitude lately though. Great sign. Whos next after Walker? Id like to see McDonald get a deal covering arb and maybe 1. Morton too if hes healthy. Those guys dont have a lot of leverage.
March 5, 2012 at 2:34 pm
makes sense to me. depends on guys like Lincoln, Locke, Owens, McPherson though. dont want to tie up some guys then have trouble trading them/overpaying
March 5, 2012 at 1:45 pm
Congrats to Andrew. Let’s see an +.850 OPS, with an improved arm in CF.
March 5, 2012 at 8:04 pm
I wouldn’t sign anybody else long term. Let me see Walker put up a good year of numbers first before they lock him in. I like Neil Walker, don’t get me wrong.