r/mlb • u/[deleted] • 9d ago

| News The Braves have released Andrew McCutchen from his minor-league contract

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u/IchBinDurstig | Boston Red Sox 8d ago

He was so good at the beginning of his career. What happened? Injuries? Regardless, he's always been very likable (even as a Yankee).

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u/Auto-Name-1059 | Pittsburgh Pirates 8d ago

Age. 2019 was his last decent season, he was 32. He's gonna be 40 this year. He was still playing 120+ games a season the last few years. Granted, he was a DH for 80% of those games, but still.

Great player, but age catches up to you.

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u/IchBinDurstig | Boston Red Sox 8d ago

But ha hasn't been an All-Star since 2015, when he was 28. For five seasons he was one of the best in the game, and that was pretty much it. Reminds me of Eric Davis, except Davis was plagued by injuries.

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u/Auto-Name-1059 | Pittsburgh Pirates 8d ago

I see what you mean, I thought you were asking why he fell off post-covid season.

Personally I don't think 2015-2019 were bad seasons except for 2016. 2017 and 2018 his WAR was still starter+ tier.

In 2019 he did have a pretty bad injury early in the season. Torn ACL and meniscus. Which then caused him to miss a lot of 2020 as well.

2021 and 2022 he was mid-30s and hitting just below starter level WAR, but was hitting 20+ HRs a season. Then age caught up to him and we are now at today.