We used an enlarged pen all this year. With 26 men next year, the need for 210 IP is lessened to a small extent.
It's not that I don't value IP. I was a huge Porcello defender up until 2019. 12 starts with 5 or more runs allowed is just too much for the extra IP to outweigh, IMO.
Yes, the IP had value, but overall, it's not worth $8M. If he pitches like 2018, like he might, I'd offer more, but he's now on the wrong side of 30, and I think it's time to move on.