McCutchen went 1-for-4 with a run Thursday against the Tigers.

EDGE Analysis

He has four hits (including two doubles) in 15 Grapefruit League at-bats thus far and has made a relatively easy transition from center field to right. McCutchen, who will soon leave for the World Baseball Classic, has enjoyed a quiet camp following a tumultuous winter.

McCutchen will bat third for the Pirates this season, MLB.com's Adam Berry reports.

EDGE Analysis

While the Pirates have understandably cooled on McCutchen's outfield defense, they will still rely on him to serve as a run producer in the three hole this season. He hit .268/.349/.450 with 15 home runs and five steals (on nine attempts) over 395 plate appearances in that spot in the lineup last season.

McCutchen is on the USA roster for the World Baseball Classic, Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

EDGE Analysis

He will be joined in the outfield by Adam Jones, Christian Yelich, and Giancarlo Stanton. After the Pirates announced he will move to the corner outfield in 2017, it will be interesting to see where manager Jim Leyland plays McCutchen during the WBC.

McCutchen will play right field for the Pirates in 2017.

EDGE Analysis

The Pirates are switching up their outfield alignment, with Starling Marte moving to center field and Gregory Polanco taking over in left. McCutchen had his worst defensive season in 2016 and at 30 years old, he is likely better suited at the corner outfield spot.

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.