Speaking at the team's Piratefest on Saturday, McCutchen refused to blame thumb and knee injuries for his poor performance in 2016. "I just didn't have it," he told DK Pittsburgh Sports. "It just wasn't there. It had nothing to do with injuries. I didn't produce the way that I wanted to, that's plain and simple. I appreciate it, because people are like, 'Something's not right. Something's off. He has to be injured to not be performing.' Honestly, it was nothing. The performance just wasn't there."

EDGE Analysis

McCutchen is unsure whether he'll remain in center field. "Who knows if something changes," he said. "I don't know that, all the way. Hopefully we'll have a more definitive answer going into spring training. ... Center field, right, left, I'm just happy to be playing." The outfielder also cleared the air with GM Neal Huntington after hearing his name mentioned in trade talks at the winter meetings. "We had a good conversation and basically ended it on good terms and went from there," McCutchen noted.

McCutchen is increasingly likely to remain in Pittsburgh in 2017 with a move from center field to one of the corner spots, Jon Heyman FanRag Sports reports.

EDGE Analysis

With a trade market full of quality veteran outfielders, the Pirates may be changing course with McCutchen and considering dealing other pieces, perhaps prospects, from the organization instead. McCutchen's contract can keep him in Pittsburgh through the 2018 season, as he'll collect $14 million in 2017 before a $14.5 million option is on the table for 2018.

The Pirates and Washington discussed a deal involving McCutchen at the trade deadline last summer, Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reports.

EDGE Analysis

Rosenthal believes the Nationals offered prospect Victor Robles but Pittsburgh wanted more in a deal that would involve multiple players. McCutchen, 30, performed poorly in 2016 but features a reasonable $14 million contract for 2017 and a $14.5 million option the following season. The Mets have also been rumored in trade talks for the outfielder, who may be asked to move from center field to right field in 2017.

McCutchen is not in the lineup Saturday against the Cardinals, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

McCutchen has cooled off a bit over the last week after putting together a strong start to September, and he has just two hits in his last 16 at-bats. After a 1-for-4 effort Friday, McCutchen will get the day off Saturday, as the Pirates go with Gregory Polanco in center.

McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a triple, two walks and a run in Friday's 6-5 extra-inning victory over the Nationals.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran slugger has salvaged his season in the second half, and is now slashing .318/.406/.612 with six homers and 18 RBI in 85 September at-bats. That tally includes four straight multi-hit efforts and a current 11-game hitting streak for McCutchen, who's also eclipsed the 20-homer mark for the sixth straight season.

McCutchen went 2-for-4 with his 24th homer Wednesday against the Brewers.

EDGE Analysis

He's now hit safely in nine straight, going 15-for-39 (.385) with four homers and 13 RBI in that span -- vintage McCutchen production that we haven't often seen this season. It's probably too little, too late for fantasy owners who have been burned by the 29-year-old outfielder this year, but if he can carry this hot streak to the regular season's conclusion, he'll certainly raise his stock for next year. After all, it's a little early in McCutchen's career for the sort of precipitous decline he's had this season to be the new normal.

McCutchen went 2-for-5 with a two-run double Tuesday against the Brewers.

EDGE Analysis

Since returning from a three-game benching at the beginning of August, McCutchen is hitting .283/.386/.476 with eight homers and 31 RBI in 197 plate appearances. His 29:29 BB:K is in stark contrast to the 35:107 he posted prior to August. The outfielder will look for a more complete rebound in 2017 at age 30.

McCutchen had only two hits in nine at-bats in Saturday's doubleheader but racked up five RBI against the Reds.

EDGE Analysis

He hit a couple other balls hard in the twinbill sweep. Following a week-long slump, McCutchen is 9-for-22 with three homers and 10 RBI. The outfielder has just three hits in 17 career at-bats off Sunday starter Dan Straily.

McCutchen went 3-for-5 with two home runs, three RBI and crossed the plate three times in Thursday's 15-2 shelling of Philadelphia.

EDGE Analysis

McCutchen's two solo shots increased his season total to 23, matching last year's total. Despite duplicating 2015's homer total, McCutchen still sits 30 RBI short of last season's total of 96, and his .250 average is more than 40 points lower than where it finished a year ago. The 29-year-old, now in his eighth MLB campaign, has also struck out 133 times this season, matching his career high mark set last year.

McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a solo homer in a 6-2 loss at the hands of the Phillies.

EDGE Analysis

The homer was McCutchen's 21st of the season, and broke a 2-for-20 slump over his previous seven games. It's been a disappointing season for McCutchen, who is just three years removed from an MVP season, and failed to be named an All-Star this year for the first time since 2010. He's hitting just .247 after hitting .314 and .292 in 2014 and 2015 respectively.