Bullpen Options?
Nestor Cortes has indeed shown significant improvement this season, bouncing back from a challenging 2023. However, it remains uncertain if he'll ever recapture the peak performance levels of 2021 and 2022. One possibility worth considering is transitioning Cortes into a relief role. There's no question he could contribute valuable innings from the bullpen and add a unique dynamic with his distinctive pitching style. While fans might be hesitant to see Cortes moved from the starting lineup, such a change could prove beneficial under Boone's strategy. Then there's Clarke Schmidt, who has emerged as possibly the second most effective pitcher on the team this year. It appears he's truly finding his stride as a starter in the majors.
However, it's likely that Boone will consider transitioning Schmidt to a bullpen role, as he is the only member of the current group with a proven history of success in relief pitching. With a career ERA of 3.18 across 51.0 innings pitched from the bullpen—much of it achieved during an impressive 2022 season—shifting Schmidt back to a reliever role would be a tough decision given his performance as a starter this year. Nonetheless, it wouldn't be surprising if he ends up being the one to make way, at least temporarily.
