I do not want to get too caught up in the nuance of exactly how deep you think we should be on SP because Id rather stick to your general point, expect attrition, because I agree and its relevant to the point Im trying to make about offense (expense attrition). Starting to think a rule of 2x applies. General rule. To win you need one TOTR starter, so have 2. You need 2 other good starters so get 4. You need 3 more capable (journeyman 5th starter types)/promising unproven youngsters (youngsters who you can hoard on the farm, but it helps your depth)/projects(guys trying to work back after a bad year or injury you think you can rectify). Putting these final 3 in one category, you need 3 of them so get 6. So all in all, you have 2 TOTR, 4 additional good starters, 6 additional options. It sounds like a lot, but like you always say - expect attrition (maybe not those words)
But, my point here, is less also apply to offense, but remember - Im not saying positionally, Im thinking more lineupally. You need 3 very good bats, so get 6. I care not where they play. I mean for sure balance aquiring/playing these 6 quality bats with defense so you arent a train wreck in the field. But my point here is that Im not saying that you need 2x good 1b, 2x good cf, 2x good 2b....But I think you need 6 very good bats, so you are reasonably assured to have a good top half of the order to compliment your pitching and d.
This sounds like I am expecting a lot, but I believe in windows. So you spend a period preparing for this, and once your window opens you have trade chips and propsect options that serve you well here. For example, you cant have all this on your 26, but if some are in the form of prospects, great. Its how you have extra depth beyond your 26.
I think thats where we are, and I read an article this morning about how Chaim has had quite the glow up. If Im a St Louis fan, Im looking at RA and Tolle and Early, and Bello, and others, including pieces that went for Crochet, and Im thinking "did we get a steal?"
As a RS fan, I know why Chaims time came and went, but if I was a ST Louis fan, Id look at the sox and be happy to have Chaim. I think, I cant know for sure.