Andrew McCutchen, Braves Reportedly Agree to MiLB Contract After Rangers Release

Following his release from the Texas Rangers in May, Andrew McCutchen has found a new team.

Per the official MLB transactions page, the former National League MVP is joining the Atlanta Braves on a minor league deal.

Atlanta has hit a rough patch over the past month as injuries have piled up. Ronald Acuña Jr., Sean Murphy, Spencer Scwhellenbach, Spencer Strider and AJ Smith-Shawver are among the players currently on the injured list.

Their offense, in particular, has been a disaster since the start of June. They are the only team in MLB with fewer than 100 runs scored since June 1 (87 in 25 games).

The 39-year-old McCutchen signed a minor-league deal with the Rangers ahead of the 2026 campaign before making the team's Opening Day roster. He didn't fare well in his time with Texas, hitting a home run and five RBI while slashing .192/.277/.260 in 37 games.

The Rangers replaced McCutchen with free agent infielder Nicky Lopez.

"Certainly respect to Andrew, what he's accomplished, not only in this game, but more importantly, who he is as a person," president of baseball operations Chris Young said. "It's been wonderful having him around, but we're at a point where given the injuries on the left side of the infield, middle infield specifically, that we're thin, and so Nicky gives us another option and provides some versatility."

Atlanta will be the seventh team McCutchen has played for in his career.

After his successful tenure with the Pittsburgh Pirates, McCutchen spent time with the San Francisco Giants and New York Yankees during the 2018 campaign before signing with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2019.

He stayed in Philadelphia for three years and then played for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2022. McCutchen then returned to Pittsburgh for three seasons before signing with the Rangers.

While McCutchen struggled during his time in Texas, he had a decent season in 2025. He's far from the MVP-caliber player he once was, but the veteran will look to get back to being a reliable bat in the lineup for the Braves.

Whether or not McCutchen ends up getting to the big leagues and playing in a game for the Braves remains to be seen, but they need all the help they can get at this point.

Atlanta is 5-13 over its last 18 games and its lead over the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL East is down to 2.5 games entering Friday.