As the disastrous 2016 season ended, the Pittsburgh Pirates knew their starting pitching was suspect.
Over the course of that season, the starting rotation was held together with spit and a prayer. The organization talked itself into Jon Niese, Ryan Vogelsong and Jeff Locke occupying 60 percent of its Opening Day Rotation.
You know the rest of the story. Francisco Liriano was traded. Vogelsong was never the same after that gruesome HBP that resulted in a broken orbital bone. Locke went to the bullpen and continued to nibble. Chad Kuhl, Jameson Taillon, Trevor Williams, Steven Brault and Tyler Glasnow all made their MLB debuts.