© Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Phillies Decline 2022 Club Options on McCutchen, Herrera
The Philadelphia Phillies announced on Wednesday that they declined 2022 club options on outfielders Andrew McCutchen and Odúbel Herrera.
McCutchen signed with the Phillies in December 2018 as a free agent. His contract included a $15 million team option for 2022 against a $3 million buyout. In three seasons with the Phillies, the veteran batted .237/.343/.444 with 47 home runs and 143 RBI in 260 games.
During the 2019 season, the former National League MVP suffered a season-ending ACL tear in June. As a result, he was plagued with knee issues during most of his tenure in Philadelphia, but displayed he still had some gas left in the tank in 2021. He belted 27 home runs, collected 80 RBI, and posted a .778 OPS in 144 games his age 34 season.
McCutchen quickly became a fan favorite in Philadelphia, and although the team declined his club option, he could still find himself back in red pinstripes in 2022.
In declining Herrera's $11.5 million option for 2022, the Phillies paid the outfielder a $2.5 million buyout. The team still has control over the 29-year-old, who is arbitration eligible.
Herrera debuted with the Phillies in 2015, and was selected as an All-Star in 2016. He was an everyday outfielder for the club until May 2019 when he was suspended by MLB for the remainder of the season for violating their Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy, after he was arrested on a domestic violence charge in Atlantic City, NJ.
He was designated for assignment in January 2020, but eventually cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He was out for the entirety of the 60-game 2020 MLB season, but was invited to 2021 Spring Training. After options ran out for centerfield for 2021, he was called up to the Phillies in late-April. In 124 games, he hit .260/.310/.416 with 13 home runs and 51 RBI.
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