Tyler Wells: Starter or Reliever?

[wildcard]

After looking for starters all winter I expect the O's to come to a realization.   They probably have one in Tyler Wells.    I think they stretch him out in ST and he will be too good to put the pen.  

Baseball Savant shows he  has:

 4 seam fastball at 95.2  with a .176 avg

Slider at 88.6 with a .197 avg

Change up at 88.4 with a .161 avg

Curve at 78.8 with a .250 avg

Though he will probably be great as a reliever the O's can add relievers cheaper than starters.   He looks like he has the pitches to be a starter which are much harder to attract to Camden Yards.

 

[UMDTerrapins]

It’s got merit, but I’d keep him where he is. Primarily because he’s had Tommy John surgery, and finished 2021 with shoulder discomfort. Good closers are hard to find, and you can probably keep him off the IL more than if he has a starter’s innings. I remember feeling the same way about Britton for a while. 

[wildcard]

11 minutes ago, UMDTerrapins said:

It’s got merit, but I’d keep him where he is. Primarily because he’s had Tommy John surgery, and finished 2021 with shoulder discomfort. Good closers are hard to find, and you can probably keep him off the IL more than if he has a starter’s innings. I remember feeling the same way about Britton for a while. 

What if the O's add a FA veteran reliever this off season that can close?

[waroriole]

9 minutes ago, wildcard said:

What if the O's add a FA veteran reliever this off season that can close?

How does that aid his shoulder discomfort and arm concerns?

[Sports Guy]

I love the “they probably have one in Tyler Wells”.

That’s a completely over the top take.  
 

They POSSIBLY have one in Tyler Wells.  Huge difference.

[Pickles]

I for one have long been in favor of giving Wells a chance to start.  My only concern is the shoulder.

[Aristotelian]

The Orioles doctors and medical experts have a better idea than any of us do whether his arm can hold up to 100+ innings. I'm not going to second guess a decision either way. We.plenty of guys to audition in the rotation and holes to fill in the bullpen, so high leverage reliever is still a useful role for him.

 

 

[HowAboutThat]

I continue to oppose the idea of a “closer” in favor of “guys who can pitch reliably”

And the rays have shown that that is an entirely valid way of conducting business.

With that in mind, I think a truly forward-looking team would seek seven guys who can each throw 60 good pitches, or 3-5 innings. And remember, the better the defense, the fewer the pitches per inning. 

[Frobby]

I’m fine with stretching out Wells in spring training and letting him compete for a starting spot.   May the best five men win.  

[Can_of_corn]

2 minutes ago, Frobby said:

I’m fine with stretching out Wells in spring training and letting him compete for a starting spot.   May the best five men win.  

Very little chance the best five win.

[wildcard]

3 hours ago, Pickles said:

I for one have long been in favor of giving Wells a chance to start.  My only concern is the shoulder.

If his shoulder is a problem its probably a problem if he relieves also.

 

[Frobby]

13 minutes ago, Can_of_corn said:

Very little chance the best five win.

Assuming that the service time rules don’t change, you’re probably right.   

[Hazmat]

I recall Tony labeling him as our 3rd best starting pitching prospect at one point last season.

[Pickles]

1 hour ago, wildcard said:

If his shoulder is a problem its probably a problem if he relieves also.

 

Agreed.  Maybe even more so.

[yark14]

2 hours ago, Philip said:

I continue to oppose the idea of a “closer” in favor of “guys who can pitch reliably”

And the rays have shown that that is an entirely valid way of conducting business.

With that in mind, I think a truly forward-looking team would seek seven guys who can each throw 60 good pitches, or 3-5 innings. And remember, the better the defense, the fewer the pitches per inning. 

I think over time, teams will start employing a pitching staff of mostly middle to long relievers, with few true traditional starters.  Basically, most pitchers would be expected to pitch 2-3 innings (essentially one trip through the order).  Only geniune aces would ever pitch 6-7 innings.