Phillies, McCutchen agree to 3-year deal
Philadelphia to pay $50 million for All-Star outfielder
LAS VEGAS, Nev. — AllStar outfielder Andrew McCutchen and the Philadelphia Phillies have agreed to a $50 million, three-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Tuesday because the agreement, which includes a club option for 2022, is subject to a successful physical.
The 32-year-old McCutchen was an All-Star each season from 2011-15, topping .300 in batting average from 2012-14. He was the NL MVP in 2013.
McCutchen nine years with Pittsburgh before he was traded to San Francisco last winter. He was dealt to the New York Yankees on Aug. 31 and hit .255 with 20 homers and 65 RBIs in 155 games overall this year. McCutchen has 223 homers, a .287 average and 790 RBIs in 10 major league seasons.
Philadelphia remains interested in Bryce Harper, the top free agent on the market, but has a surplus of outfielders, including Odubel Herrera, Nick Williams, Aaron Altherr and Roman Quinn.
Rhys Hoskins is moving from left field to first base
after the team traded Carlos Santana to Seattle for infielder Jean Segura last week.
BLUE JAYS: Troy Tulowitzki has been released by the Toronto Blue Jays, who owe the oft-injured shortstop $38 million for the remaining two years of his contract.
Now 34, Tulowitzki has not played in the major leagues since July 2017. He was limited that year to 66 games because of a hamstring and right ankle injury. The ankle required surgery last spring and he missed the entire season.
He is owed $20 million for next year, $14 million for 2020 and a $4 million buyout of the 2021 team option.
ORIOLES: Executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias on Tuesday denied he’d selected Chicago Cubs bench coach Brandon Hyde as his new manager, declaring “very clearly it’s a premature report” as news of the hire flashed across MLB Network on a muted television in his suite during a media briefing.
Hyde, 45, was in his second stint as Cubs bench coach, this time under manager Joe Maddon. He was the first base coach when Chicago won the World Series in 2016.
Hyde’s selection, reported by the New York Post and The Athletic, comes at the end of a protracted process after Elias was hired in mid-November. It left the Orioles in the rare position of attending this week’s winter meetings looking for a manager.
ROYALS: Kansas City and speedy outfielder Billy Hamilton have finalized a $5.25 million contract that includes up to $1 million in performance bonuses and a mutual option for 2020.
His deal, announced Tuesday, calls for a $4.25 million salary next year and a $7.5 million mutual option with a $1 million buyout He can earn $100,000 each for making 325 plate appearances and every additional 25 through 550.
TRADE: Right-hander Ivan Nova was acquired by the Chicago White Sox from the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday for minor league pitcher Yordi Rosario and $500,000 in international signing bonus pool allocation.