Can this rotation be competitive?

[Hodor]

Just a quick question. If I chose to enter the season with the following eight pitchers, could I be competitive in the pitching categories, I'd obviously add closers.

18 team mixed standard 5x5

Gerrit Cole
Michael Fulmer
Aaron Sanchez
Drew Pomeranz
Descalfini
Finnegan
Daniel Norris
Michael Feliz

Salaries are all good so just looking for thoughts regarding their potential as a staff, individual concerns welcome as well.

Thanks!

[The Dane]

I don't think so.

I love Cole, but he's dubious as an anchor.

Fulmer and Sanchez are pretty good, but more like a #4 and a #5 on a competitive staff, instead of a #2 and #3.

In 2016, Pomeranz doubled his innings from 2015. I'm worried he could fall apart.

The rest are flyers in that depth of a league.

[revo]

Yeah, I tend to agree with Dane. It's not far off, but it needs work.

Cole is an SP2, Sanchez and Fulmer are SP4s, DeSclafani is a solid SP5. Pomeranz, who knows? The other guys I have no confidence in.

In the auction target an ace and a SP3.

[senorsheep]

Nope. You need to add two starting pitchers who are solidly above replacement level.

[madducks]

Agree with the above. You need an SP1 plus an SP3. Or a pair of SP2's and some really good fortune with Cole.

[Judge Jude]

so now salaries worth listing

[Hodor]

Chris Sale 36
Gerrit Cole 16…...... 2018
Michael Fulmer 5b
Aaron Sanchez 5b
Drew Pomeranz 3b
Descalfini 2b
Finnegan 3b
Daniel Norris 1
Michael Feliz 3

Salaries

[Hodor]

Update, just traded for Sale at 36.

[onejayhawk]

Maybe now. With Sale, you have a #1, a #2, and three good dice rolls. You need one more and solid is good enough. Not done yet, but it's close enough to dream.

It could be worse. I have a rotation of Carrasco, Rodon, Manaea with Giolito and Z Wheeler as depth. At least the team can hit.

J

[Andrewski]

Update, just traded for Sale at 36.

I like the staff with Sale, though to me, the biggest question is going to be if there are tradeable in-season assets to further supplement the pitching. This staff is sorta competitive at this point, but to be truly competitive in a league like this, you need at least 2-3 more very good SPs. Your trading skills will get a workout!

[Hodor]

I like the staff with Sale, though to me, the biggest question is going to be if there are tradeable in-season assets to further supplement the pitching. This staff is sorta competitive at this point, but to be truly competitive in a league like this, you need at least 2-3 more very good SPs. Your trading skills will get a workout!

I'm working on those as we speak

[Big Tymer]

For more context, this league allows twice a week roster changes (M-Thur and F-Sun). IMO, this makes streaming / playing matchups much more viable if you have the SP depth to shuttle guys in and out (as well as fill in with RP). I'm bullish on Sanchez and if Fulmer repeats LY then I think you should be ok assuming you finish towards the top in Saves. I say this because I don't think your ratios will be dominant so you will need to make that up elsewhere. I don't love having AL East pitchers though as in a mixed league all things being equal its always better to go NL for pitching if possible.

[Hornsby]

For more context, this league allows twice a week roster changes (M-Thur and F-Sun). IMO, this makes streaming / playing matchups much more viable if you have the SP depth to shuttle guys in and out (as well as fill in with RP). I'm bullish on Sanchez and if Fulmer repeats LY then I think you should be ok assuming you finish towards the top in Saves. I say this because I don't think your ratios will be dominant so you will need to make that up elsewhere. I don't love having AL East pitchers though as in a mixed league all things being equal its always better to go NL for pitching if possible.

But at this point, there are nine keepers at pitcher, and none of them are closers. Everyone hunts cheap closers in this league, so I don't know that's going to be a solid option. So You either keep Kimbrel instead of one of the current picks, or go hunting for the mid-tier guys that may be out of a job by July...

It's an interesting strategy to try to corner a market, I'll be watching closely to see if it can work.

[Big Tymer]

But at this point, there are nine keepers at pitcher, and none of them are closers. Everyone hunts cheap closers in this league, so I don't know that's going to be a solid option. So You either keep Kimbrel instead of one of the current picks, or go hunting for the mid-tier guys that may be out of a job by July...

It's an interesting strategy to try to corner a market, I'll be watching closely to see if it can work.

Fair point. In a vacuum though I do think this strategy can work but to your point there won't be many closers available and those that will be will not be cheap.

[Hodor]

But at this point, there are nine keepers at pitcher, and none of them are closers. Everyone hunts cheap closers in this league, so I don't know that's going to be a solid option. So You either keep Kimbrel instead of one of the current picks, or go hunting for the mid-tier guys that may be out of a job by July...

It's an interesting strategy to try to corner a market, I'll be watching closely to see if it can work.

The plan is to keep eight arms, including Kimbrel.