7.3% contrarian. And for the record I'm not "anti-Cora." Cora's done exactly what he's done. What people are willing to ignore/forget or magically attribute to him is another matter. For whatever it's worth he helmed an epic team in 2018. His 2017 and 2019 carry their own weight.
E-Rod FA 2022
Sale FA 2024/5
Eovaldi FA 2023
Pivetta FA 2025
Houck.
Richards, FA 2022 (cl opt 2023)
Perez, FA 2022 (cl opt 2023)
7 guys for 5 slots. I think we're stocked for the year. . .and don't see what we'd do to clear some space if we got another starter who wasn't lights-out Ace caliber. If Sale returns ramped up to start the final months (and hopefully into the post-season), we'd have:
Sale, Eovaldi, Pivetta, Perez, E-Rod/Richards. (Houck in Wstr).
If E-Rod gets less unlucky or recovers fully, our depth looks like:
Sale, E-Rod, Eovaldi, Pivetta, Perez. (Richards.)
Like let's say we can get an Eovaldi type - a plus starter, but not a #1. Who goes in trade (for value) to whom? or who goes into the bullpen?
*E-Rod's been fantastically unlucky, and by ERA+ our worst starter to date. I don't see any good landing spot for him in a trade, unless he got hot. . .but then we'd keep him. Also, unless the team thinks he's done, there's significant value in keeping him and negotiating an extension in-house before he hits the market. So he's in the rotation, like it or not.
*Sale is coming off of an injury - and would we trade him anyway?
*Eovaldi might have some trade value to a contender this year or next, and he has bullpen experience - but he's been our best starter. So why remove your #2 after Sale? That new #1 would have to be a heck of an upgrade.
*Pivetta and Houck are the guys we have the most control over, and would be the most enticing in a trade. Not that we'd have to trade a SP or potential SP. . .but do we put Pivetta in the bullpen when a) Sale returns and b) we get another starter? He's been good. He's part of the future.
*Richards and Perez are the most sacrificial/fungible. . .Richards the more so since the Great Unsticking. But Perez has been good though. Would someone take Richards? Could he transition to the BP?
So Richards is likely the odd man out if Sale returns. But if we then trade for a #1? Who gets the hook?
PS - FWIW, this is a team that won't cut bait with Danny Santana with his OPS+ of 32 in 76 PAs. (Franchy's was 36 when demoted, 102 PAs.) Even though they have some OFs who are hitting the ball well in AAA.