The Atlanta Braves signed former National League MVP Andrew McCutchen to a minor league contract on Friday, July 3, 2026, according to official MLB transactions and media reports.
The veteran outfielder joins the club to bolster an offense thinned by multiple injuries.
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McCutchen was released by the Texas Rangers in late May after posting a . 192/.
277/. 260 slash line with one home run and five RBIs in 37 games.
According to mlbtraderumors.
com, the 39-year-old recorded a 55 wRC+ and a career-worst 26.5% strikeout rate during his short stint in Texas.
The Rangers replaced McCutchen with infielder Nicky Lopez to address their own infield depth issues.
"Certainly respect to Andrew, what he's accomplished, not only in this game, but more importantly, who he is as a person," said Chris Young, Texas Rangers president of baseball operations.
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Young explained that the roster move was necessitated by injuries to the team's middle infield.
"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," Young said.
Atlanta has struggled recently, going 5-13 over its last 18 games, leaving them just 2.5 games ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL East.
Bleacher Report notes that the team's offense has scored fewer than 100 runs since June 1, totaling 87 runs across 25 games.
Key players like Ronald Acña Jr. and Sean Murphy remain on the injured list, prompting the additions of McCutchen and Carlos Santana, while parting ways with Rowdy Tellez.
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McCutchen will initially report to the Florida Complex League to build up his playing shape.
