Bucs: McCutchen Deal Made Official

PITTSBURGH (93-7 The FAN) — The six-year, $51.5-million dollar contract offered to Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen was made official Tuesday afternoon.

McCutchen, 25, sat down at McKechnie Field in Bradenton, Fla., with Pirates Chariman Bob Nutting and general manager Neal Huntington and signed his contract.

"We're not signing a baseball player," Nutting said, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "We're signing a person we believe in greatly."

McCutchen is now signed in Pittsburgh through the 2017 season with a $14.75-million club option for 2018. He will make $500,00 of base salary this season plus a $1.25-million signing bonus.

He will make $4.5 million in 2013, $7.25 million in 2014, $10 million in 2015, $13 million in 2016 and $14 million in 2017, leading up to his club option in 2018.

"It's almost like getting drafted all over again," McCutchen said. "It's almost like being married, and you renew your vows. ... It felt like I was home here."

Listen to McCutchen with The FAN's Vinnie Richichi.

McCutchen was the 11th overall pick in the 2005 MLB Draft. He made his Major League debut in 2009.

McCutchen has a career average of .276 and a .365 on-base percentage.

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Chris Gates | Bucs Blog
Twitter.com/Chris_Gates
Chris.Gates@cbsradio.com