By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
New Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Andrew McCutchen is eager to help the club win right away in 2019. Joined by his wife, Maria, and son, Steel, the former MVP, five-time All-Star, and four-time Silver Slugger and one-time Gold Glove awards winner said he is "overly excited" and "happy" to represent the city and franchise at his introductory press conference Tuesday at Citizens Bank Park.
"I'm looking forward to what the future holds for us. I saw this team from afar, playing against them … I saw what they were able to do this past season. They fell a little short, but something I do realize is, it's there. I'm happy to be here and just be part of it. To help this team push forward to win a championship is what it's all about."
On offseason preparations for 2019 season:
"I'll just continue to do what I've been doing. I always say, 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it.' That's what I'm going to continue to do. Just train the way I've always trained, and I think with the longevity that I've had in my career, I'm just going to continue to keep doing that. I trust myself and what I do to prepare for the season. I always prepare to play 162-plus games. That's not going to change, and that's what I'm doing now to prepare. Me and Kap have had conversations already, talking about having days where it would be a good day to take off. I understand I'm not 22 anymore. There are days when I'm going to need off. Just to be in the right position, help the team and be able to play a full season."
On returning to Pennsylvania after playing nine seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates:
"It's amazing to be back [in Pennsylvania], to be somewhere I'm familiar with. This is something that is not foreign to me. To be on the other side of the state is great. Close to home; our home is outside of Pittsburgh. My wife's side of the family is from there. It feels good to not feel like we're so far away. This is great for us. We're happy and excited about it, and the familiarity with this organization."
On acquiring Gabe Kapler's No. 22 jersey, the number he has worn for most of his career:
"We had our conversation. We talked about the transition and trading off of the jerseys. He understood where I was coming from, I understood where he was coming from. The importance behind the number and what it means to each one of us. We were able to exchange that and talk about that. The process was great. I do understand he wore No. 22 for his son … I've worn it my whole career, so he understood that as well. We reached that agreement … and it was great, transitioned smooth. I'm excited. … I thanked him 100 times and I'm going to keep thanking him."
On playing regularly at a hitter-friendly ballpark, Citizens Bank Park:
"I have my share of homers here. I know what it's like to hit here, and to be able to hit here for 80-plus games is going to be very fun for me. I do think it's going to be beneficial. I haven't played a full season in a hitter's park. I've never done that before. The majority of my career playing in Pittsburgh, it's fair. It's not overly big or overly small. I did pretty well there, and then I played in one of the biggest ballparks in America in San Francisco, so … to be here is definitely going to be a plus for me. I think it's going to help me to do what I've always done … hit the opposite side of the field, drive the ball that way and get rewarded for it."
On his philosophy of leadership and interacting with Phillies teammates:
"I do understand the importance of leading. There's different ways to lead. You can lead by example, you can lead by being vocal. You can lead in a lot of different ways, and the way that I look at it is, for myself, I'm more of a guy who likes to lead by example. I don't say a lot all the time, but when I feel the need to speak, I will. That's just who I am. I have the respect of players, and I respect them as well. I don't ever want to be the guy, just because I almost have 10 years in baseball, I don't ever want to feel like I'm higher than the next guy. Regardless if you got 10 years or 10 days, I want you to be as comfortable with me as I am with you. That's what it's all about. That's what I'm going to tell these guys here. They're going to get to know me and understand I like to have a lot of fun. … I'm looking forward to meeting everyone on this team and just go from there."
On the Phillies' interest in Manny Machado and Bryce Harper:
"It's not exciting for me as it is for everyone else, I guess, who likes to talk about it. Those guys … they're going to make the rounds they need to make, and rightfully so. They deserve whatever they're going to get. Very happy for them for that. I don't really think too deep into it."
On adjusting to the game, entering his age 32-year season:
"This game is a game of adjustments. We all know that. There's a difference between a person being here, and a person not being here. I've definitely had to make some adjustments over the past few years, and I know I can be even better than what I've been the past few. There has been a decline, yes, but I understand I'm what I'm capable of doing, and I definitely think this ballpark is going to help me in that aspect. I know I can be better. That's what I've been doing this whole offseason. I've been preparing, going and working. That's not going to stop. I'm looking forward to going out and being even better than what I've been. I'm never satisfied, and I don't settle for what I've done. That's just the person in me. … There is some upside in the things that we see. We can tend to look at things one way or the other. We can look at things and find the negative, or we can look at things and find the positive. I tend to look at the positive, and that's what I do every offseason, learn the things I haven't done well and it's just going to make me a better player."
On where he prefers to play and bat with the Phillies in 2019:
"I have played every [outfield] position. There's familiarity with that, and that helps me. … I can play left … right … and center. That helps me in that aspect. I played in one of the most difficult right fields this past season in San Francisco. The way that I look at that is, if I can play there and do decent, I think I can fare well wherever else I play. It does't necessarily matter where I play. I'll be comfortable with it just because of past experiences, being in San Francisco, playing there, adjusting there. I know I can adjust anywhere if I can adjust there.
"I'm comfortable [batting anywhere]. A majority of my career I have batted third, but I have done some leadoff, second, and fifth. It really doesn't matter. As long as I'm in the lineup, wherever I fit that helps this team best, I'm game for it. I'm not selfish. I just want to be a team player."
Where exactly McCutchen plays most of his first season in red pinstripes surely depends on if any other acquisitions, like Harper, come to fruition. The Phillies will host Machado at Citizens Bank Park on Thursday.
