I think since he was talking about 7th starter, he already had Wright pegged as sixth. Unless I'm missing someone.
That's exactly what I meant. Even if the top-3 starters each make 34 turns through the rotation, that leaves 60 starts. There's still likely a real need for depth reaching 7 starters deep.
Last season the guy penciled in to start the season at #6 (Wright) got 24 starts and the team gave up its top pitching prospect for a #7 (Pomeranz) able to make 13 decent starts after the other options had all spit the bit.
AS STARTER (MLB CAREER):
Wright - 4.04 FIP, 4.60 xFIP
Rodriguez - 4.16 FIP, 4.37 xFIP
Pomeranz - 4.21 FIP, 4.08 xFIP
Kelly - 4.27 FIP, 4.21 xFIP
Elias - 4.33 FIP, 4.18 xFIP
Johnson - 4.52 FIP, 5.54 xFIP
Owens - 5.00 FIP, 5.34 xFIP
AS RELIEVER (MLB CAREER):
Pomeranz - 3.10 FIP, 3.31 xFIP
Kelly - 3.37 FIP, 3.41 xFIP
Wright - 4.02 FIP, 4.03 xFIP
Elias - 4.14 FIP, 5.73 xFIP
Rodriguez - no data
Owens - no data
Johnson - no data
Honestly, by career FIP/xFIP splits a case could easily be made where both Kelly and Pomeranz shuffle off to the pen, Wright and EdRo are made the #4-5 starters, and Elias rides the Pawtucket shuttle as the #6.
But, due to SSS, it's not likely to be much of a good case. What actually happens appears more likely to depend on player health, management's preferences, expectations of improved performance, and spring training results.
Still, IMO if he's healthy then Wright should be the #5 starter rather than in the bullpen, at least to start the year before the weather gets too hot.