LAS VEGAS — Andrew McCutchen is coming back to Pennsylvania, albeit with the cross-state Philadelphia Phillies.
The longtime Pirate agreed to a $50 million, three-year contract Tuesday, a person familiar with the negotiations told the Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement, which includes a club option for 2022, is subject to a successful physical.
The 32-year-old was the NL MVP in 2013, highlighting his long run with the Pirates. He split last season with San Francisco and the Yankees, hitting a combined .255 with 20 homers and 65 RBIs.
The Phillies have a surplus of outfielders, including Odubel Herrera, Nick Williams, Aaron Altherr and Roman Quinn. Rhys Hoskins is shifting from left field to first base after Carlos Santana was dealt to Seattle.
The winter meetings picked up a bit Tuesday, but any big deals for the likes of Corey Kluber, Manny Machado and Bryce Harper remained on deck.
There were reports the Baltimore Orioles, finally, were close to hiring a manager in Chicago Cubs bench coach Brandon Hyde. But the O’s said those stories were premature, and they wouldn’t make a decision before leaving Las Vegas.
The World Series champion Red Sox made a move, too — with their lineup. AL MVP Mookie Betts will shift out of the leadoff spot and bat behind Andrew Benintendi, manager Alex Cora said.
Speculation continued to swirl about a huge swap that would include the Yankees and Mets. The New York teams don’t usually do business directly, but this trade would enlist a third team: the Miami Marlins and J.T. Realmuto, their star catcher.
“I’d like to think that we’re very open-minded and aggressive and talk to everybody about what’s available in the marketplace. And so it doesn’t matter really for most part what the team is. I’ll explore every opportunity that might be available,” Yankees GM Brian Cashman said.
Zach Brendza is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Zach at 724-850-1288, zbrendza@tribweb.com or via Twitter @imxzb.
