The Pirates are in a bit of a pickle.

Very soon, the club will have to decide which direction it will go this offseason:

Hope last year’s disappointing campaign was an aberration and take another shot at the playoffs, or begin what could be a long and arduous rebuilding process.

The answer isn’t simple. It’s made even more complicated by the fact this front office seems to be perpetually stuck on the fence.

There is a case to be made for both paths:

The Rebuild

Let’s face it, the Pirates have a dearth of talent at a few key positions.

Other than Felipe Rivero, the bullpen is a dumpster fire.

Third base is an abyss.

And who knows if Jung Ho Kang will even be allowed back in the country to play again.

The starting rotation is also muddy and full of question marks.

Can Gerrit Cole bounce back from a mediocre 2017 season? Is Tyler Glasnow just going through growing pains or will he be just another John Van Benschoten?(His ERA is certainly Van Benschoten-esque).

When you really look at this roster critically, it’s difficult to see how it can contend for a wildcard spot, even with the addition of a few key (and, of course, cheap) free agents.

The Pirates should put the “For Sale” sign on the front office window and field all calls for some of its moveable stars, namely Cole, Andrew McCutchen and Josh Harrison (if they eat some of the utility guy’s contract, that is).

There is a market for all of them and the Pirates could get a pretty good haul of minor-league talent to begin the rebuild.

It makes more sense than watching McCutchen walk next offseason and praying Cole doesn’t regress even more, or, shudder, blow out his arm as Pirate pitchers are prone to do.

The All-In

A case can also be made that the Pirates aren’t really all that far away from contending.

The outfield of McCutchen, Starling Marte and Gregory Polanco has the potential to be one of the best in baseball.

Josh Bell emerged as a bright, young star at first base and the pitching staff has some intriguing talent.

It isn’t all that far-fetched to believe if this club can put it all together — and get a little luck — there could be another Buctober in the Burgh.

Throw in a few key additions, like the return of Neal Walker, who is rumored to be on the move by the Mets, and perhaps a sneaky pitching acquisition or two, like Alex Cobb or Lance Lynn for the rotation and Steve Cishek, Tony Watson (yes, that Tony Watson) and/or Bryan Shaw for the bullpen, and, raise the Jolly Roger, this could be the Twins of 2018.

Of course, that’s a lot of ifs.

But isn’t that always the case?

Something in the middle of these two scenarios is far more likely to happen.

After all, the Pirates seem to live on the fence these days.

Mike Kilroy is a staff writer for the Butler Eagle.