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As the 2016-2017 Major League Baseball offseason starts, I am going to give you three reasons for optimism as a fan of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
No matter how you cut it the 2016 season was a disappointing one for the Pittsburgh Pirates. For the first time since 2012 the Pirates finished with a losing record (78-83-1). And this came on the heels of three consecutive seasons that ended in a postseason appearance.
The disappointment ran deeper than just the Pirates’ final record, though. Ace starting pitcher Gerrit Cole had an injury riddled season. Their second best starting pitcher, Francisco Liriano, had the worst season of his career and was eventually traded. And Andrew McCutchen also had the worst season of his career.
Despite all of this, there is reason for optimism as the offseason begins. I truly believe the 2017 Pittsburgh Pirates will be postseason contenders once again. And today I am going to give you five reasons for optimism as the offseason begins.