In his book “One Last Strike,” Tony La Russa wrote about his debates with longtime pitching coach Dave Duncan, over whether they would rather have an elite closer or a true No. 1 starter to start a pitching staff. La Russa wanted the closer, which was more about how solidifying the final stage enabled his game planning than an argument about which asset front offices should treat with a greater priority.
https://theathletic.com/2250689/2021/01/11/white-sox-liam-hendriks-free-agency/