SUNDAY: The Pirates will indeed change their outfield alignment, manager Clint Hurdle announced Sunday. After primarily playing right field during his first three seasons, Polanco will head to left. McCutchen will cede center to Marte and take over in right.
“We believe this alignment will maximize our outfield production,” said Hurdle. “Our men were very professional and respectful of the team and each other throughout the process, and are selfless in helping us strengthen our team defensively.”
SATURDAY: It appears there will be a changing of the guard in the Pirates’ outfield this year. After spending most of his first four-plus seasons in left field, Starling Marte will shift to center in 2017, he told MLB Dominicana (Twitter link; h/t Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette). If that happens, the longtime face of the franchise, five-time All-Star center fielder Andrew McCutchen, will join Gregory Polanco as the team’s starting corner outfielders.
Given the vastly different defensive results Marte and McCutchen have produced in recent seasons, it’s no surprise that the Pirates look poised to shake up their outfield alignment. Since debuting in 2012, Marte has accounted for the majors’ sixth-most Defensive Runs Saved (73) and recorded an impressive Ultimate Zone Rating of 31.4. McCutchen, on the other hand, has fallen off drastically in the grass and is coming off a year in which he finished last in the majors in DRS (minus-28) and second last in UZR (minus-18.7).
In addition to his defensive troubles, McCutchen posted the worst offensive output of his brilliant career in 2016 (a still-respectable .256/.336/.430 line with 24 home runs in 675 plate appearances) and has been the subject of trade rumors this offseason. While it looked as if the Pirates would move McCutchen at the Winter Meetings, no deal materialized and general manager Neal Huntington declared afterward that the team would go forward with the 2013 NL MVP on its roster. Of course, Huntington could still trade McCutchen sometime in the near future – the 30-year-old has two seasons, including a 2018 club option, and up to $28.5MM remaining on his contract. In the meantime, he could become a corner outfielder after lining up exclusively in center during his first eight seasons.
The 28-year-old Marte – unlike McCutchen, perhaps – is in line to serve as a Bucs cornerstone for the foreseeable future. Marte, who’s fresh off his fourth straight full season of easily above-average production, is controllable through the 2021 campaign at an affordable $46.5MM. Now, as part of an effort to ameliorate a Pittsburgh defense that was among the majors’ poorest during a 78-win 2016, Marte seems likely to go forward at the outfield’s most important position.
“Is line to serve”
Andrew McChicken
Wow, congratulations. Did you come up with this comment on your own, or did mommy help you out with it??
Makes sense. Cutch was brutal.
He was never a true cf. Much like Kemp they had make up speed to erase mistakes or bad jumps. It also doesn’t help he’s lost some on the arm that wasn’t the greatest to begin with. That being said, I do think he is poised for a come back and a big one, assuming health. I don’t think Sept was a mirage or I’m hoping it’s not. He’d be a tremendous corner guy in RF. He’s good for the game and fun to watch.
Totally agree. This should put a chip on his shoulder to fuel an already loaded division race. Maybe they can steal a few more games against the Cubs. Would be good for the Dodgers lol
He’s been a true CF since day 1 you lying putz.
Go google statements like this before spouting stupidity
link to mlb.mlb.com
“is an excellent defensive center fielder”
Stop telling lies out of wanting to be “right”.
Is this meant as a joke?
If it’s a joke, we’ve found a new, angry Shecky Greene.
Somebody got up on the wrong side of the curb today…..
Lol
Let me help you brush off those imaginary cockroaches swarming over you
Yeah, what did I just read? He said he was never a true CF which was clearly an opinion, which we all have and use to share and converse. It must just be hard to be an A’s fan some days…
I wonder if the Pirates are just making a knee-jerk reaction to Cutch’s performance last season. A corner may be a better fit. In my opinion, his skills and talents he has exhibited over his career far outweigh one down year. .256 with 24 long balls is still not too shabby. They are used to him being .310-.330 or so. I expect him to have a bounce back year in 17. He has way too much talent not to have another Cutch type year. And btw, does anyone find it strange that the Pirates are in the Central Division and not in the National League East? I know they have to even out the divisions equally so I guess that is why.
Nothing knee jerk about it. This move was long overdue. Marte is hands down the superior CFer.
He’s been a declining cf for a while.The numbers he’s put up in the past don’t really matter to his defense this coming season when he’s clearly losing his speed.
I LOVE having these baseball conversations with you Chester, and everyone else cos it does nothing but get everyone’s adrenaline pumped for spring training and opening day, but i am giving Cutch the benefit of the doubt. He is only 30, not 36, or 37, or 38. I still see nothing but improvements or better numbers for him in 17. Even though the Pirates are rivals in the NL Central, I still have alot of respect for them and for Cutch. They may end up moving him before the trade deadline, even if he does put up impressive numbers in 17, just for payroll reasons. Imagine all the billboards with Cutch’s picture throughout Pittsburgh they will have to tear down if they do end up trading him. Big Ben’s may be the only ones left in the steel city. Just a thought.
The reason for the positional move is simply because Starlin Marte is just that good.
Silly Cards fans…thinking Nutting would pay for a billboard.
Also, Sidney Crosby? Evgeni Malkin? Phil Kessel? Kris Letang? The hockey team is pretty good here.
Trading Cutch has nothing to do with him declining. In fact, it’s probably the only thing that prevented it. It was/is just time to sell him as an asset.
Cole will be traded next year for the same reason.
Hopefully, both players have great years and can bring back young players to pair with Marte, Polanco, Meadows, Bell, Taillon, Glasnow, Keller, Newman, etc.
Eh… Malkin Schmalkin. Just kidding.
His offense is likely to rebound, but that’s not what I’m saying His defense is declining, it has been for a while. Players defense tends to peak early and it is in large part because speed declines first as players age and fill out.
Someday I could see them moving to the east to set up a rivalry with the phils, like how they moved houston. Problem is, who would go to the central then. And besides, cleveland and cincy aren’t that far away anyway for comparison.
Geographically, Atlanta would be the team to move to the central if you were going to pull one from the east. But the established rivalries are in the central. Also as much as Pittsburgh vs Cleveland is a football “rivalry”, it’s not one of the yearly interleague series like orioles/Nats, mets/Yankees, giants/athletics, or royals/cardinals
Texas/Houston belong in same division as Royals/Cardinals. Detroit/Indians/Reds same division. Braves belong with Marlins and Rays.. California Teams can have it’s own division. Red Sox,Mets,Yankees,Blue Jays.
They wouldn’t put teams in close proximity in the same division. It keeps alive a Yankees/Mets, Dodgers/Angels, Cubs/White Sox, Royals/Cardinals, etc. World Series matchup.
Its not a knee jerk reaction. Should have been made years ago. Also knee jerk to what? The batting stats that have nothing to do with outfield defense?
“Marte, who’s fresh off his fourth straight full season”
Not so fast. My guy sat out a few weeks at the end of the season. Ridiculous he wasn’t DL’d. Full season? Not true.
And the award for “Mr. Semantics” goes to…
zing!
I regard 129 games as a full season, especially relative to his 47-game debut in 2012.
Hopefully Cutch will show class and not squawk or sulk. Whatever makes our team better, should be the reply.
Cutch has never once been anything but class, and the fact that you felt the need to bring this up as a “maybe” shows low level systematic racism on your part – and you need to be called out for it. If he was white you wouldnt have written this, period.
Enough with the “immediate racist references” please………..I don’t know either of you, but Stymee didn’t even hint at anything racial.
JAF….Are you suggesting that you don’t subscribe to the theory that “Elite players of all races/creeds/colors can be Spoiled Rotten Brats”…??? That Bryce Harper doesn’t have an attitude?…..and that we could “hope that he doesn’t squawk or sulk” when the Nats won’t extend him for $400 million……???
Let’s not go down that road here………..Can’t we just keep it to Baseball?
Oh god not this again.
If Cutch was white, people would say they hope he takes it well and doesn’t sulk about it. This isn’t even insulting a black man, which isn’t racist in all circumstances, contrary to what you believe. This commenter said he hopes he takes the news well and doesn’t sulk about it. That’s what we should all hope about all players receiving a demotion of some sort. If last year, I said I hope Blake Swihart takes his move to the outfield well, and doesn’t sulk, do I hate white people?
Just Another Person Looking To Be Offended. The fact that you felt the need to bring this up as a “racism” shows low level systematic offendedism on your part – and you need to be called out for it..If he was white you wouldnt have written this either, period. How about Just Hush…
You have lost all credibility.
You should cal yourself Just Another Troll since you tried to turn a regular comment into a discriminatory one
JAF the only racist seems to be you
Trying to bring race into a situation like this, where it has zero business being brought up is just degrading the real instances where it applies. Ever heard the story about crying wolf?
The worst part is, the last time he did this, people sided with him over a similar original comment…
This is a dumb comment, period
I just don’t have the magnifier that you have to look for racism that isn’t there. Many Superstars (all of them) grouse when they are moved or deemed slighted, by a move in the field, the batting order, to the bullpen, or from the closer position. If it will make your tiny ego feel better, I will use Jonathon Pappelbon as an example. Not being from Pittsburgh, I know little about McCutchon, the person. I do believe this is the first time he has been put in this position though, so its nice to know from the update, that the team says they are all willing for the betterment of the team.
It’s funny because now we are all dorks for prospects, and we constantly read lines about them like “Can stick in CF, but will eventually have to move to a corner” and thats just whats happening here. Marte is a natural CF but was blocked, now the guy who blocked him has to move to a corner, NBD really. McCutchen’s bat will carry his elite ceiling.
Yep exactly. Well said.
Agreed. He’s going to plenty justify a corner outfield spot with his bat. No reason to try to force some extra value putting him in a position better suited for Marte. Doesn’t mean Cutch isn’t great or an above average defender. Center, shortstop, and catcher rely less on the bat and more on defense. Good defender just not in center. Nothing wrong with that as long as he hits close to the Cutch we know
Agreed, the outfield is a strength, I would be more worried about the infield.
I wouldn’t count the Bucs out this year, the won over 95 two yeara ago. I like the young pitching and if Cole and Cutch return to form they will be a wild card team again. They will need to take the next step at the deadline this year to insure themselves a playoff position.
I agree with you on that. Especially if Tallion and Glasgow can show some major growth. Tallion probably further a long to be a difference maker.
I also find that Bell to be a major impact player at 1st.
How much of a difference would it be to have Polanco in CF instead of Marte?
I absolutely love Marte in LF throwing out unsuspecting baserunners at 2nd or home. Those are my favorite plays.
I imagine that he’ll be able to do that more often when he’s in CF
Hope this smart OF realignment for Pirates (less pressure for Cutch Def) increases perception that Pirates can afford to deal Meadows as headliner for win-win Quintana deal. Your club would be rock solid. Almost certain Hahn would pull trigger on a Meadows/Keller/Diaz package (or Newman in lieu of Diaz) since OF and C are areas they need to address most in rebuild.
The Pirates are not trading Meadows or Keller.
Keller is projected as a possible ace with a floor as a #3. He’s the reason they might be able to trade Glasnow.
Meadows is a possible future all star CF. He’s the reason they will trade a recent MVP at age 30.
“Meadows is a possible future all star CF. He’s the reason they will TRY to trade a recent MVP at age 30.”
Fixed.
No, that’s not even close to Keller’s floor.
OK. Go tell Keith Law he’s wrong.
Why move Polanco to left instead of McCutchen?
There’s more ground to cover in left at PNC Park, which makes Polanco a better fit.
Really? Generally, isn’t RF thought require better athletes than LF? RFers typically have stronger arms than LFers.
Arm strength is pretty similar between McCutchen and Polanco (85.8 mph for the former and 86.6 mph for the latter last season, per Statcast). So, given PNC’s dimensions, Polanco’s range versus McCutchen’s probably made this a fairly easy decision.
Mike Petriello of MLB.com wrote a nice article on this back in November: link to m.pirates.mlb.com
Awesome stuff. Thanks, Connor. Totally makes sense now.
Based on the eye test, polanco has a more accurate arm and he has the ability to unleash a cannon. But yeah, left field at PNC is almost as spacious as an average center field.
Came to this comment section with the same question, wondering why McCutchen didn’t go to left. Thanks for clarifying this!
Duly noted on the “potential” of Meadows and Keller, but unless there was that potential, no reason for NH to think he has the goods to realistically be interested in prying away Q (37mils next 4yrs easily worth 100mil on open market). Glasnow has way too high a bust/inconsistent tease potential to headline a deal for anyone that good.
I highly doubt and sincerely hope the Pirates cannot and/or do not make a deal for Quintana.
Getting JQ doesn’t make them a WS contender. A few of these blue chippers panning out would.
A Pirates deal for JQ only works if they can flip Cutch for the bulk of the package to send to the ChiSox once Meadows is ready. That is not out of the question at the deadline.
Bring back the Expos. Toronto can trade Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to the Expos.
I’m not sure what this has to do with the Pirates outfield situation, but I’d support it.
Nothing at all. I like to make random comments.
That one prospect guru on MLB Network who isn’t Jonathan Mayo (I think his name is Jim Callis) gushes over Vlad Jr. so much that I want the Pirates to offer Cutch to the Jays.
Vive Les Expos ! Vive La Belle Montreal !
This creates a problem for a future trade scenario. If they want to trade Cutch for a nice round of prospects, they ruined the possibilities by promoting his inability to play. Great way to bring down his value even more.
They aren’t trading him. Otherwise they wouldn’t be doing this.
Never?
Actually, the White Sox had a CF who was struggling there so they moved him to RF where he looked a lot better and his trade value seemed pretty freaking high.
But did they make a big show out of it? No. They just moved him. I think that is what I am trying to say. Instead of saying something like, “McCutchen’s metrics indicate that he is a weak defensive centerfielder and relies on speed to compensate” say “McCutchen’s metrics indicate that he will be a superior right fielder leveraging his speed and arm strength in the dimensions of PNC Park.” Sounds and “looks” a lot better. Talk him up if you want to trade him, not down. It would be like going into a Honda car dealership, talking to the first salesperson and they said, “I don’t know about this Honda. Did you know Toyotas rated better in the quality index than us?” Talk him up. Get strong prospects.
What? You don’t think that any front office trading for him would watch tape of his cf defense or scout him in person and realize for themselves that he can’t do it anymore? Why do people constantly post stuff like this? MLB front offices, in large part, are not dumb.
Well, in the past, they occasionally were.
I am not sure the center field argument would have worked on any of them, but some did attempt to trade for saves and established closers.
The front offices not being dumb? I remember this headline. “Pirates trade Francisco Liriano, prospects Reese McGuire and Harold Ramirez to Blue Jays for Drew Hutchison.” If they “talked up” Reese and Ramirez and kept them by saying they were untouchable, could they have used those players to pull off a Quintana deal by now?
If a team was going to trade for him. They are doing so for his bat. I’m not sure very many if any teams were willing to plug and play him in cf. So he has just as much value as he did in the offseason. It actually probably increases his value seeing as he’s amendable to playing a corner. It probably also increases the potential amount of teams looking for a corner OF. So everyone knew the decline in CF was evident and the Pirates weren’t going to pull the wool over on that aspect.
it makes some sense, certainly worth a shot.
I live in TO. Andrew’s name has been all over our news for months. Has he really taken that big of a step back or just had an off year?
Legs are going. Hasn’t been a stolen base threat in a few years. He’d be fine playing a corner in TO. The bat should/did rebound.
Love it
I just get the feeling Cutch is going to have a monster year. Funny to see so many analysts that would want you to believe the guy is done after one bad year
Still, even with a stellar OF, an average middle infield that is light hitting together with an anemic catching unit is going to make the wild card only possible if the stars stay healthy, have career years and offset the many tough starts the young arms will likely have
Still, I don’t see trading Meadows and other top farmhands for a good pitcher that still won’t find them in the same galaxy as the Cubs
Good move for now. I think Cutch still has some in the tank.