In a vacuum there’s nothing wrong with what he said, but that not how it works. There’s a context, so of course it’s going to look a little fishy. That’s kind of the problem with saying stupid things... it’s what people come to expect.
I like the idea of ketel marte. He can fill in for cf until Robert is back, and then he can essentially fill leury’s role as (a much better) 2b/SS/of. He’d likely cost someone like crochet and some lesser pieces, however.