Very true, and one key factor is that the whole bottom can fall out, if there is a sharp decline or injury that lessens the innings.
The quality of those innings going forward matters.
Gray was 3rd in ERA- in 2023 and 35th in 2024, then 40th in 2025. That's a scary trend for a 36 year old. Yes, he still had some decent side numbers that give us promise and hope, but once again, we've added a question mark at about the same money Buehler got, last year.
That being said, I'd prefer Gray over Buehler- pre2025.
2023-2024
7th in FIP (3rd in xFIP) and 26th in ERA ay 4.07
His ERA- is 100 (dead average) 26th out of 37 qualifiers. (38th out of 54 with 300+ IP and 68th out of 114 with 200+ IP, Bello is at 93 & Houck 97, despite his awful '25 numbers)
5th in K-BB%