The Phillies and McCutchen agreed to a three-year deal on Tuesday worth $50 million. The contract is pending a physical. He'll open the season in right field.
The Phillies have been in the market for an outfielder since the start of the offseason and McCutchen is a solid fit. The 32-year-old is a five-time All-Star and split time last year between the Giants and the Yankees, hitting .255 with 20 homers and 65 RBIs.
McCutchen has played in at least 146 games in each of the last eight seasons and brings a stabilizing veteran presence to a clubhouse that struggled with an identity at times last season.
The signing of McCutchen does not mean the Phillies are bowing out of the Harper sweepstakes, in fact, one source close to The Review mentioned on Tuesday that he believes Philadelphia is the favorite landing spot right now for Harper.
That all remains to be seen, though Harper's agent Scott Boras is scheduled to meet with Phillies brass at some point this week.
No, McCutchen alone won't push the Phillies to the pennant, but his addition makes the Phillies a better ball club and potentially a more enticing destination for free agents ... yep, just like Harper.
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