OK, but you have gone on and on about those of us preferring to keep Houck and Whitlock in the pen, assuming we add a quality starter or two.
You've said I'm a fence-sitter, and maybe I am on Whitlock, but a lot depends on who Bloom signs next.
I really like Houck as an 80-100 IP RP'er with many high leverage innings. I know he's young enough, and I think he's good enough to be a decent to good starter- maybe even great, but he's really struggled the 3rd time facing batters. The sample size is small, so these numbers are not the only story, but they are frightening, to me:
Houck Career:
.485 1st PA as SP (144 PAs against)/.535 as RP (39 PA)
.618 2nd PA as SP (134 PAs)/ .000 as RP (just 3 PA)
1.081 3rd PA as SP (just 27 PAs)
FYI:
Whitlock as a RP'er:
.645 1st PA (285 PAs against)
If we trade for someone like Montas, I want both in the pen.
If we sign a second Wacha, I'd want Whitlock in the pen, but I doubt it happens, if we sign another SP'er. We'll have...
Eovaldi
Sale
Pivetta
SP added
Wacha
Seabold/Winckowski/Crawford/Bello
.321 2nd PA (13 PA)