Six of the eight players who were regulars on the Pirates’ 98-win team in 2015 remain. Of those six, only one has been at least somewhat productive in 2017.
This is the primary reason the Pirates are 8-11.
It’s not the starting pitching, or the bullpen for that matter. Even as Tyler Glasnow, Antonio Bastardo and Chad Kuhl have struggled, the Pirates entered Tuesday with a 4.04 team ERA, only slightly worse than the National League average of 4.03.
It’s not lack of investment in that 2015 team. All six of those core players who remain are veterans in whom the club has invested signifcant money over the long term.