The 38-year-old McCutchen hit .232 with 20 home runs and 53 RBIs in 120 games last season with Pittsburgh, which finished 76-86 for a second consecutive year.
The Japanese superstar caps 2024 by winning The Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year for the third time, tying him with basketball great Michael Jordan. He trails only four-time winners Lance Armstrong, Tiger Woods and LeBron James.
Manaea blossomed into New York’s top starting pitcher this year during his first season with the team, going 12-6 with a 3.47 ERA in 32 starts. The left-hander declined his player option for 2025 to become a free agent for the third straight offseason.
The Rangers will be the third team in three years for Pederson, who rebounded from a difficult 2023 season with San Francisco to hit a career-best .275 with 23 homers and 64 RBIs last season with Arizona.
Kasparas Jakucionis scored 21 points, including the go-ahead basket with 28 seconds left, and Illinois defeated Missouri 80-77 on Sunday in the annual Braggin’ Rights game between the nonconference rivals.
New York Rangers forward Matt Rempe was suspended for eight games by NHL’s Department of Player Safety on Sunday for boarding and elbowing Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen on Friday night.