Texas Rangers, former NL MVP Andrew McCutchen agree to minor league deal

The Texas Rangers have dug into their change pocket again to find some more money to spare for a potential right-handed outfield bat, agreeing to a minor league deal with former NL MVP Andrew McCutchen, two people with knowledge of the deal told The Dallas Morning News.

The deal is still subject to a physical.

McCutchen, 39, spent the last three seasons with Pittsburgh where he also began his career and enjoyed his most success. He was durable last year, playing 135 games almost exclusively as a DH. He slashed .239/.333/.367/.700 with 13 homers. More importantly, McCutchen, a right-handed hitter, had a .799 OPS against left-handed starters last year, making him a viable candidate as a platoon DH.

McCutchen would earn $1.5 million in base salary if he makes the team. He could push it up to $2.5 million with performance bonuses.

Rangers

The move comes a day after it was revealed that Atlanta’s Jurickson Profar had been suspended for the full season for testing positive for performance enhancing drugs. It had been rumored that McCutchen might then end up with the Braves as a replacement.

The Rangers already have signed one veteran right-handed hitter as a potential part-time DH: Mark Canha. The 37-year-old is 4 for 14 in spring training with all four hits being singles. Joc Pederson, the primary DH, is a left-handed swinger coming off a poor year. Pederson is 3 for 12 this spring, all singles.

At the very least, McCutchen provides a little more competition and some depth from which the Rangers can choose.

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