3 key questions for the Bucs in the new year

This story was excerpted from Justice delos Santos' Pirates Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

Regardless of how you would rate the Pirates’ offseason thus far, you can’t say it’s been uneventful.

Fresh off reaching agreements with right-handed pitcher Vince Velasquez and left-handers Jarlín García and Rich Hill (per source) to bolster the rotation and bullpen, the Pirates have signed catcher Austin Hedges and acquired outfielder and first baseman Connor Joe.

With Hedges and Joe in the mix, Pittsburgh’s potential Opening Day roster comes clearer into focus. But a few questions remain.

1. How much longer will Bryan Reynolds be a Pirate?
There are only two scenarios in which this question ceases to be relevant. One, Reynolds signs an extension. Two, Pittsburgh trades him. Until one of those two scenarios unfolds, that question will float over the organization indefinitely. The Pirates released a statement after Reynolds' trade request became public, noting that the request “will have zero impact on our decision-making this offseason or in the future.” Time will tell how the Pirates proceed.

2. How do the Pirates address their outfield depth?
For the sake of this question, let’s say that Reynolds is on the Opening Day roster. Along with Reynolds in center field, Jack Suwinski has a strong case to start at either of the corners. Miguel Andújar, who agreed to a one-year, $1.525 million deal to avoid arbitration, will get some occasional burn in left field as well. On Sunday, the Pirates acquired Joe from the Rockies, someone who provides defensive versatility at the corners and first base. So what does Pittsburgh do with the rest of its outfielders on the 40-man roster? Cal Mitchell, Canaan Smith-Njigba, Travis Swaggerty and Ryan Vilade possess youth, yes, but they aren’t established big leaguers. Do the Pirates go into Spring Training with those players and let competition play out? Do they trade one of them? Do they sign a veteran outfielder?

3. How much more adding?
By quantity, the Pirates have had one of the more active offseasons in baseball. They've added to the rotation. They’ve added to the bullpen. They’ve added to the infield. They’ve added to the outfield. Many of those additions have been around the margins, and none stand in the way of the youth movement.