When the Yankees traded for Ryan Weathers and the Mets for Freddy Peralta, they were not only fortifying rotations — in the Mets’ case, finding someone to pitch atop it — but participating in what has become a growing trend:
Overstocking their starter cupboards.
Teams have long appreciated the adage about “never having enough pitching,” notably starters. Thus, each spring training was about not only preparing the main five, but defining the next five starters as well. But that usually was a mix of prospects, long men and minor league signings.
More and more — and the Dodgers have been a “follow the leader” here — clubs are amassing six, seven and maybe even eight legitimate starter candidates then sorting it out as they go along.