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Andrew McCutchen is a Pittsburgh Pirates legend, but he’s not happy with the franchise after not being invited to their annual fanfest before the start of the 2026 MLB season.
McCutchen has 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 wasn’t asked to interact with fans at their annual event.
McCutchen blasted the Pirates on social media, comparing himself to other legends of teams around the league who go to features created each year.
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Andrew McCutchen of the Pittsburgh Pirates looks on 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. (Joe Sargent/MLB Photos)
“I wonder if the cards did this [to Adam] Wainwright/[Albert] Pujols/Yadi [Molina]? Dodge to [Clayton] Kershaw? Tigers for Miggy [Miguel Cabrera]? The list goes on and on,” McCutchen wrote on X.
“If this is my last year, it would have been nice to meet the fans one last time as a player.”
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Pirates GM Ben Cherington was asked about McCutchen’s absence from the fan fest, where he got media-educated answers.
“Andrew has meant a lot to the team,” he replied, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “He’s had an incredible run at two different times. Certainly, his legacy as a Pirate is secure. Everyone with the Pirates, it’s our desire to maintain a very good relationship with Andrew well into the future.”
Andrew McCutchen #22 of the Pittsburgh Pirates looks on after a fan falls 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 has not materialized just weeks before spring training.
“The job is to build a team that gives us the best chance to win games when you’re on the ballpark in June and July,” Cherington said. “Our approach this offseason has been laser-focused on what gives us the best chance to win more baseball games in Pittsburgh than we have in recent seasons. That will continue to guide our decisions. So much respect for Andrew. That 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 runs 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 over 135 games for Pittsburgh last season.
For this Pirates career, McCutchen has hit .281/.372/.467 with an .839 OPS, 248 home runs, 351 doubles and 875 RBI over 1,713 career games.
