Pittsburgh Pirates: 2021 Center Field Options Entering the Off-Season

PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 02: Anthony Alford #6 of the Pittsburgh Pirates in action during the game against the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park on September 2, 2020 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 02: Anthony Alford #6 of the Pittsburgh Pirates in action during the game against the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park on September 2, 2020 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MA – SEPTEMBER 24: Jackie Bradley Jr. #19 of the Boston Red Sox catches a fly ball during the ninth inning of a game against the Baltimore Orioles on September 24, 2020 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. The 2020 season had been postponed since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – SEPTEMBER 24: Jackie Bradley Jr. #19 of the Boston Red Sox catches a fly ball during the ninth inning of a game against the Baltimore Orioles on September 24, 2020 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. The 2020 season had been postponed since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) /

Free Agent Options

Last off-season the Pittsburgh Pirates addressed center field in free agency. This occurred when they signed veteran Jarrod Dyson to a one-year contract. The team then traded Dyson to the Chicago White Sox for international spending money in August.

Could they turn to the free agent market again this off-season? It’s possible.

Prior to signing Dyson, the Pirates were reportedly interested in Kevin Pillar last off-season. Well, Pillar will be a free agent once again. Jackie Bradley Jr. could be a name to watch as well, especially with Cherington’s ties to him from his time as general manager of the Boston Red Sox.

If the Pirates are looking to go speed and defense only in center field the way they did with Dyson, than a long time Pirate killer that fits that bill will be on the free agent market. Who is that player? Billy Hamilton. Yeah… no thanks.

Next. 3 Off-Season Goals for the Pirates. dark

Who will be in center field on Opening Day 2021 will be a storyline to follow for the Pittsburgh Pirates throughout the off-season. In fact, it’s a storyline that could carry into spring training. It will certainly be something for Pirate fans to watch the next few months.