PITTSBURGH -- The Pirates are four weeks from the finish line, a long way out of the postseason race and about to face some important questions regarding where they stand heading into next year. With that in mind, a lot of the topics in this Pirates Inbox are geared toward the future.

What do you think will be the Pirates’ biggest need this offseason?
-- James M., Pittsburgh

Assuming there are no significant shakeups that change the Pirates’ plan from “reload” to “rebuild,” it’s pitching.

As a team, its 5.06 ERA entering Monday ranked 26th in the Majors. The Pirates' rotation’s 5.23 ERA ranked 24th in the Majors and 14th in the National League. That’s not good enough to contend.

Their 654 runs scored and 95 wRC+ rank eighth in the NL, but you can look at the lineup and see the core of a productive group with Kevin Newman, Bryan Reynolds, Starling Marte and Josh Bell atop the order. Get a healthy Gregory Polanco back in right field, and that’s another potential power bat if he returns to his mid/late-2018 form. Third-base prospect Ke’Bryan Hayes is on his way.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the Pirates addressed their catching this winter. With no catchers among their Top 30 prospects, according to MLB Pipeline, can they bank on either Elias Diaz or Jacob Stallings as their starter next year?

A more experienced catcher could help their entire pitching staff. So would improved infield defense. But without Jameson Taillon, it seems like the Pirates will have to acquire at least one starter.

There’s room for another reliever, ideally a lefty to fill Francisco Liriano’s role. But they will have options returning in front of Felipe Vazquez and Keone Kela: Kyle Crick, Richard Rodriguez, Michael Feliz, Clay Holmes, Chris Stratton, all the relievers who have shuttled from Indianapolis to Pittsburgh, and a pair of intriguing arms coming back from season-ending injuries: Edgar Santana and Nick Burdi.

What do you think the Pirates’ rotation will look like next season? I thought it was supposed to be better than this, and I hope the front office realizes that it hasn’t been good enough. Is there anyone out there we can sign to replace Taillon?
-- Greg B., Bradenton, Fla.

Pitching was indeed supposed to be the strength of this team, and that obviously hasn’t worked out. Injuries played a part, particularly with Taillon missing all but a month (and not at full strength when he did pitch) and Trevor Williams struggling in his return from a month-long stint on the injured list. Jordan Lyles also pitched well before his hamstring issues -- and he’s been quite good since he was traded to the Brewers.

They can’t just blame injuries for what’s happened, though. Chris Archer has a 5.19 ERA. Joe Musgrove has been durable and he’s made some of the Pirates’ best starts this season, but he has a 4.67 ERA despite peripheral numbers that suggest he’s been better. Mitch Keller has mostly struggled.

I think you’ll see a lot of the same names early next season: Archer, Musgrove, Williams and the second-half silver lining that is Steven Brault. Their options for that last spot would include Keller, Dario Agrazal and an external acquisition.

Keller certainly could strengthen his case with a strong finish, and he’ll be in the picture next season. But considering what he’s done so far, I’m not sure they can guarantee him a spot in the Opening Day rotation unless he blows everyone away next spring. Same goes for Agrazal.

If the front office feels the same way, the last spot would go to someone who’s not currently on the team -- even if it’s another upside bet like Lyles or an old-fashioned reclamation project.

The dark horse here is Chad Kuhl. The right-hander was a roughly league-average starter in his first 61 starts, and the stuff he showed in late 2017/early ’18 indicated he could be more than that. But Kuhl will be coming back from Tommy John surgery. He recently said he’s planning and hoping to be a starter, but he couldn’t say for certain.

Is there a true replacement for Taillon in that group? Not really, especially not the 2018 version of Taillon. To make up for that loss, they’ll need everyone in the rotation to take a step forward -- some bigger than others.

I’ll admit I was wrong about the Pirates needing to go get a shortstop in the offseason, because I like Kevin Newman, and I’m excited to see Cole Tucker come back and put Erik Gonzalez on the bench. Who do you see as our Opening Day shortstop next season?
-- John S., Peoria, Ill.

Great point and a great question. Newman is currently hitting .313/.357/.448 with 10 homers and 13 steals. He looks like their leadoff hitter moving forward, and he has probably done enough to solidify himself as the Opening Day shortstop heading into next season.

The Pirates had Tucker play some second base in Triple-A toward the end of Indianapolis’ season, so maybe he’s being groomed for a utility role. Alternatively, Tucker could man the middle infield alongside Newman, with both players capable of playing second and shortstop, and Adam Frazier could move back into a super-utility role next year.

September should provide some answers, as the next month is essentially a testing ground for 2020. We’ll see how the Pirates balance the playing time of Newman, Frazier, Gonzalez, Tucker and Kevin Kramer.

With Josh Bell unlikely to sign an extension, would it make sense to trade him in the offseason, perhaps for some young starting pitching? Jose Osuna is a better fielding first baseman. Bell has become the face of the franchise, so that would be hard. But I'd be looking to see what I could get for him.
-- Jason D., Richmond, Va.

Not yet, no. Bell is only entering his first year of arbitration eligibility. He’s their best power bat. He’s one of their most valuable and popular players. Osuna is a better defender, but he has not proven he can hit like Bell over a full season -- and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with having a player like Osuna on the bench.

This would be different if the Pirates were looking at a multiyear tear-down and rebuilding process. Moving Bell now, weakening their lineup to potentially improve their pitching, is just a case of robbing Peter to pay Paul. If they’re truly trying to win in 2020, they need to build around hitters like Bell.