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I’m not as high on Graceffo especially as an option for starting. Even out of the pen, he has been walking too many and generating too few whiffs. What he has done a good job at is limiting HRs. His BABIP shows he has been very lucky and I wouldn’t be surprised if next year he has an ERA over 4 out of the pen even.
I often wonder if Leahy would have received the chance to return to starting if they had better options at the time. We never know about injuries, but right now, I don’t see GG as the sixth or seventh best option to start. I like building a better pen, too.
An aspect of a roster and system full of controllable and affordable players is they are not going anywhere any time soon. They will all be present and in time piling up near the top. Yes, there will be injury layoffs, but also injury returns. As soon as spring 2027 filling out the ML and AAA pitching staffs will be an unfamiliar sort of process for the organization. For one thing, there should be no need to scrape around for 4A types for the Memphis staff. It should be a fun spring.
Yeah, I’m not so sure about Graceffo starting either. It could happen if there’s a need due to injuries – which is basically the case right now so I guess Graceffo could “start” for about 3-4 rotation turns and maybe build up to 75-80 pitches by the last one.
Even if that happens and he does well, I still think the odds of him being assigned to be a starter next season are low. McGreevey, Leahy, Pallante, and Mathews are all ahead of him assuming health. Then, you have Richard Fitts presumably coming back plus Liberatore and Hjerpe both in competition for a spot. And, there’s a good chance the team signs someone like Dustin May on a one-year deal. I suppose if Graceffo does really well in his opportunity now and looks great in the Spring, then there’s a definite chance. But he is going to have to earn every bit of an opportunity.
When looking at Graceffos last 3 games, he has shown that he can be stretched out. Maybe it’s too small of a sample size, but he has 13 Ks in his last 9 plus innings. There is no new stat that explains that. This reminds me of how when Leahy was given his chance after pitching 3 plus shutout innings in relief with 7 Ks. I would include Graceffo and Hjerpe as a starting option next year. The fallback for Graceffo would be a similar role to this season. Hjerpe, like Leahy this year, would likely have to be limited on his innings next year. I would guess Hjerpe would have an innings limit even less than Leahy.
Young pitchers can look a lot different from one year to the next. We are likely to have some surprises.
Bling, Dobbins won’t be in contention for a rotation spot. He had to undergo the knife for Tommy John surgery.
I’m just not considering Graceffo at all. Leahy out of the pen pitched much better than Graceffo has when you looked at indicators of future success.
There are also so many more promising options for next year along the lines of what Brian said. Graceffo has a low ceiling as a SP if he can even make it. I would rather a guy with upside like Hjerpe, Molina, Cjintje, or the next wave of guys like Doyle and Franklin get opportunities.
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