Fantasy owners strike gold with Pirates' reconfigured outfield trio

As the 2017 fantasy baseball season approaches, we take a look at the biggest news and story lines from each club. We'll feature one team each weekday ... and we'll finish up on Feb. 15, the first day all teams will have their pitchers and catchers on the field for workouts.

A run of three consecutive playoff appearances ended in 2016 for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Injuries were a contributing factor, but mostly it was a case of other teams passing them by. Keeping their key players healthy will definitely help, but the Pirates fanbase has become a bit restless by the front office's inability (lack of effort?) to acquire additional major league talent. Still, there's plenty to like on this roster.

2017 fantasy baseball team previews

2016 at a glance

Record: 78-83 (3rd in NL Central)
Hitting: 13th (4.50 R/G)
Pitching: 18th (4.21 ERA)

Arrivals

RP Daniel Hudson

Hudson's ERA ballooned to 5.22 last season in Arizona (although he did have a more respectable 3.85 FIP). He throws hard and gets plenty of ground balls, so he could get a chance to close at some point.

Players to watch

OF Andrew McCutchen
OF Starling Marte 
OF Gregory Polanco
SP Gerrit Cole

Former National League MVP McCutchen started slowly and his overall numbers (.256, 24 HR, 79 RBI, 6 SB) never really caught up to his usual standard. Was he just playing hurt? Or has age started to catch up with him? His walk and strikeout rates were both career worsts, he was caught stealing more times than he was successful and some advanced metrics rated him as one of the game's worst defensive outfielders.

The Pirates tried to trade McCutchen in the offseason, but it appears they will keep him and hope for a rebound. However, in what may be a concession to his diminished range in the outfield, they are reconfiguring their outfield alignment for 2017.

“After a detailed evaluation, various considerations and many conversations, we have discussed with each of our outfielders the defensive alignment that we will employ," manager Clint Hurdle said in a statement issued Sunday.  "That alignment will be Gregory in left field, Starling in center and Andrew in right.  We believe this alignment will maximize our outfield production."

Marte was Pittsburgh's most valuable player last season, hitting .311 and stealing 47 bases, despite missing almost the entire month of September with a back injury. Polanco got off to a strong start, but faded down the stretch as he battled shoulder and knee ailments. However, his career-high 22 home runs were an encouraging sign of developing power.

Cole had to be shut down early because of an elbow injury. However, he's throwing normally now and expected to be fine for spring training. They'll need a big year out of their 26-year-old ace, who went 19-8 with a 2.60 ERA in 2015.

Sleepers

3B Jung Ho Kang
1B Josh Bell
SP Ivan Nova

Kang hit 21 home runs in 318 at-bats last season after recovering from a broken leg, but his status is up in the air after he was charged with DUI in his native South Korea. A suspension from MLB to start this season is possible.

Bell also may not be with the team to start the season. He tweaked his knee during offseason workouts and had minor surgery to clean things up. If he's not 100% by opening day, David Freese will start at first base.

Nova was outstanding after the Pirates acquired him in an under-the-radar deal at the trade deadline. In 11 starts with Pittsburgh, he went 5-2 with a 3.06 ERA and a 52/3 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Bullpen

Closer: Tony Watson
Next: Daniel Hudson

After trading closer Mark Melancon at the July 31 deadline, Watson took over the closer's job and converted 15-of-18 save opportunities. However, this is his final year of arbitration so he could be a trade candidate. Hudson, Felipe Rivero or possibly Juan Nicasio could be candidates for the job if Watson is dealt.

Position battles

Freese would likely have split time at first base anyway, but he should receive full-time at-bats at one corner infield spot to start the season due to the uncertainty surrounding Bell and Kang. John Jaso could also see time at first -- and he'll get at least a look at third, a position he's never played in the majors.

The final two spots in the starting rotation could be in play this spring. Drew Hutchison spent most of last season in the minors, but is still only 26 and the exact type of reclamation project that's made pitching coach Ray Searage so successful. Youngsters Chad Kuhl, Tyler Glasnow, Steven Brault and Trevor Williams could also be in the mix.

Prospects

SP Tyler Glasnow
OF Austin Meadows

The 6-8 Glasnow has all the physical tools, but he struggled with control last season even as he was dominating minor league hitters and posting a 1.87 ERA in 110 2/3 innings at Class AAA Indianapolis. However, he continued to walk more than five batters per nine innings after being promoted to the majors and the result was a 4.24 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in 23 1/3 innings. If he can get his mechanics straightened out, Glasnow has all the makings of a future ace.

Meadows missed a sizable chunk of the minor league season with a variety of injuries, including getting hit in the face by a pitch. He also dealt with separate oblique and hamstring issues and had to be scratched from the Arizona Fall League. He crushed the ball at Class AA (.311/.365/.611 in 167 at-bats) and finished the year at Class AAA Indianapolis. There's no room in the outfield for him, but if the Pirates do work out a trade for McCutchen, he'd likely be the leading candidate to fill the vacancy.

Projected batting order

1. 2B Josh Harrison
2. 1B Josh Bell/David Freese
3. RF Andrew McCutchen
4. CF Starling Marte
5. LF Gregory Polanco
6. 3B Jung Ho Kang
7. C Francisco Cervelli
8. SS Jordy Mercer

Projected rotation

1. RHP Gerrit Cole
2. RHP Ivan Nova
3. RHP Jameson Taillon
4. RHP Chad Kuhl
5. RHP Tyler Glasnow