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Cervelli: McCutchen is our Derek Jeter

Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports / Reuters

Francisco Cervelli knows what it takes to be a winner after spending six seasons with the New York Yankees, winning a World Series title in 2009.

Along the way he learned from Yankee greats Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera, and Derek Jeter before an off-season trade brought him to the Steel City.

He understands to be a winner, you need a leader and Andrew McCutchen is the one he believes will guide the Pittsburgh Pirates to the promised land, even comparing him to a legend.

"Cutch is our guy, our leader by example," Cervelli wrote for The Player's Tribune on Wednesday. "Cutch is our Jeter. Cutch is The Man."

McCutchen is a career Pirate, who had another stellar year for Pittsburgh, hitting .292/.401/.488 with 23 home runs, 96 RBIs, and 11 stolen bases, so the label seems fitting.

Although the lineups have yet to be released for the Pirates in their National League wild-card showdown against the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday, Cervelli and McCutchen are both expected to start.

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