There will be a fuckton of SP available this offseason, which made the Castillo trade even dumber than it was on paper. Regardless, you have to add two guys who can give you quality innings. This is what I’d like to see happen with the pitching staff to start the season:

Rotation:

1. Burke

2. <Free Agent>

3. <Free Agent>

4. D. Martin

5. L. Castillo

Bullpen:

• CL: G. Taylor

• SU: H. Smith*

• SU: J. Hicks

• MR: <S. Newcomb*>

• MR: H. Brazoban

• MR: B. Hudson*

• LR: D. Sandlin

• LR: A. Kay*

AAA Rotation:

1. N. Schultz*

2. D. Thorpe

3. T. McDougal

4. S. Smith

5. K. Bush*

6. M. Vasil

Castillo gets an incredibly short leash and is replaced by Schultz, Sandlin, or Thorpe if he’s still the 2026 guy. Martin gets a longer leash, but has to show signs that is was the calf injury impacting his performance down the stretch or he eventually gets moved to the bullpen. Hagen & Taylor remain key bullpen pieces alongside Hicks and a resigned Newcomb. Kay moves to a swingman role. AAA rotation serves as depth to both major league rotation & bullpen.

Give me this and we are cooking. Also, cue the CBA fear mongers who assume we will spend zero money this coming offseason and will rock a $100M payroll.

4 minutes ago, fathom said:

That’s not good though if they want to make these guys starters on a full time basis next year

There's no definitive medical reason that limits innings. Prep them all to be starters and whoever is good will stay a starter until they're no longer good. Whoever isn't goes in the bullpen.

2 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:

Big innings jumps is likely what wiped out Shane Smith, fwiw.

Has gone through so many injuries and career set backs from his college days.

Didn’t Shane Smith go rogue and work with a Driveline group last offseason and change up his mechanics?

4 minutes ago, almagest said:

There's no definitive medical reason that limits innings. Prep them all to be starters and whoever is good will stay a starter until they're no longer good. Whoever isn't goes in the bullpen.

Have you not seen how incredibly careful the Sox are with Schultz and Hagen?

10 minutes ago, fathom said:

Have you not seen how incredibly careful the Sox are with Schultz and Hagen?

They had Schultz starting until he showed he wasn't ready yet. Smith had too many command issues to trust going for longer than a couple innings. They'll 100% have both prepped to be starters next year unless they don't think they can do it.