Gerrit Cole will make his major league debut tonight for the Pirates. He's the first #1 Pirate Prospect to make his debut since Pedro Alvarez in 2010 and first #1 pitching prospect since Kris Benson in 1999. Needless to say, this is a big deal. This article is not about what to expect, which I believe will be very very good things, but about what happens afterwards. The top prospect in the system does not come up to make a spot start so I have to believe Cole is here to stay and optioning him back isn't an option. I have had an idea for a long time about what the Pirates should/could do with their excess starters. I thought I would have a post like this when Charlie Morton came up and JMac wasn't injured, but now Cole complicates things farther. There is a possible solution other than trades and here it is.
A six man rotation. This idea was discussed last year as a possibility to save energy for the starters but this year it's about using all the effective starters. After Cole debuts, we're going to have a problem. The rotation will look like this: AJ Burnett, Wandy Rodriguez, Francisco Liriano, Jeff Locke, and Gerrit Cole. This is assuming no DL stint for Wandy. Now Charlie Morton is ready and could be used as the long reliever for now but then we have James McDonald. Ok we can send down Vin Mazzaro and hope he passes through waivers so JMac can be the 2nd long man. But then we have Jeanmar Gomez. What now? We have three long relievers. Now comes the six man rotation idea. Throw Charlie Morton in as a sixth starter and use Gomez and McDonald as the long men. This makes Mazzaro the odd man out but sacrifices must be made. Another guy will be down for Cole tonight (guessing Zagurski gets optioned if he has any left, if not Reid is optioned) and eventually others will have to go too. But this could be a way to use the excess guys without being forced to DFA or trade them. I personally would rather see JMac traded for a bench piece or anything at this point. That would leave us with still a good bit of depth. This is also assuming that no other injuries occur which is always a possibility.
To conclude this, I'll say the best long term solution for the Pirates is a six man rotation or trading a starter if everyone remains healthy. If no one is traded I see this as the best rotation and bullpen in the future.
Rotation: AJ, Wandy, Liriano, Locke, Cole, Morton
Bullpen: JMac, Gomez, Wilson, Watson, Melancon, Grilli
I don't think the Pirates will do this and they will trade at least one excess starter but this is a possibility that must be explored. If someone is traded, look for it to be before someone comes off rehab or someone on rehab just before they come off like John McDonald was dealt today. Time will tell how this all works out.
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