Houck and Whitlock have been great in the pen. Just because they have not done, well as starters doesn't mean we should trade them. Plus, why trade them when their stock has fallen, a little.
Sale should not be traded. I'm with you on never counting on him to pitch, again, but he did prove to me, that he can still pitch very well, when he DOES pitch. I wasn't so sure about that aspect in March. That is why I do not pay to see him pitch for another team.
Pivetta has not proven he can do what he has done from the pen, as a SP'er, this year. He's had spurts of doing well in 2021 and 2022, some 12-16 games long, but he's not been great as a SP'er. He has to prove he can start for me to start thinking of trading Houck and Whitlock.
Numbers as SP'ers:
2023
5.05 Houck (.695 OPSA)
5.23 Whitlock (.841)
6.30 Pivetta (.885)
2022
4.15 Whitlock (.723)
4.32 Houck (.663)
4.56 Pivetta (.753)
2021
3.68 Houck (.627)
n/a Whitlock
4.56 Pivetta (.735)
I've been a big Pivetta supporter over the last 3 years and wanted to let him try starting again, a few weeks ago, but he has yet to prove he can do it better than Houck and Whitlock.
Crawford has started to show he belongs in the rotation, for good, but he needs a few more good starts to win a slot, outright, once everyone returns (assuming they all do at some point together.)
I'd start Pivetta in 5 days- no doubts.
If he sucks, no doubt some will claim we ruined him by breaking something that didn't need fixing. IMO, Houck, Whitlock, Pivetta and Crawford would be better from the pen (in long roles,) but we need 3 starters (2 if Sale returns.)
It's not an easy call on who should start. It's no slight on one guy by picking another. They all look better in the pen.