Pittsburgh Pirates: How Will The Outfield Shape Up Next Season?

Analysis: As Baseball Christmas approaches (only 14 days until pitchers and catchers report!), many questions about the Pittsburgh Pirates still hang in the balance. Among those questions, perhaps the most intriguing is: How will the Pirates line up in the outfield next season?

It’s hard to judge the Pittsburgh Pirates’ outfield from 2016. Starling Marte was a revelation, Gregory Polanco was good, if not inconsistent, and Andrew McCutchen was bad. He was very bad. But now the outfield just needs a bit of a shakeup in order for the operation to run more smoothly for the 2017 campaign.

In short, the center field grass needs to file a restraining order on Andrew McCutchen, because the Pittsburgh Pirates are wasting their time if he steps foot in center field this season. He can move to right field, pushing Polanco to left. Marte is a godsend, and could probably play all three outfield positions by himself if he wanted to, so I’m sure he’ll succeed in center field.

As the new season is swiftly approaching, let’s look at the outfielders’ 2016 seasons while also taking a look at what to expect during the 2017 campaign.