I dont see how we can drop Santos to make room. Hes a legit hard throwing reliever that profiles to the back end of a bullpen. What spot you place him in the pecking order makes no difference.
Its like having seven legit SPs, the worst of which is a MOR. You dont drop him simply because he's #7 on a staff with an elite rotation.
I do not think anyone specifically means to drop him. I know I said possibly trade him to Toronto after their debacle for a super lotto ticket prospect (someone 2 years from Rule 5 but hopefully more than they JC we gave up for Myers). And, as my son said about relievers, you can never really count on them year-2-year. Even though Myers got through TB, his location was way off from where Hedges was set up (maybe due to his hard throwing).
However, at the end of the day, we are splitting the 40 man roster 20/20 or 19/21 where we have 5 starter locks, 6 reliever locks (inc Morgan, Hentges, Sandlin) and Morris, Vargas are locks for 13 (with 6-7 spots to go between Cantillo, Battenfield, Pilkington, Curry, Gaddis, Santos, Miko, Hankins, Misiaszek). And with pitching, you rather error on more starters than relievers than you would expect as starters can fill in for relievers.
The question is who has more value to the Tribe short-term/ long-term. IF Santos is about equal to Miko, Misiaszek or Gaddis (as reliever types); then it is more who helps out more short-term and/or long-term. Tribe showed Sat that Santos is their 6th/7th guy already. Add in Vargas next year (at 100 mph) and maybe a Miko/Mis/Gaddis type, you have 8 guys even without Santos (Clase, Kar, Stephan, Hentges, Sandlin, Morgan, Vargas, Misiaszek-Loogy). You can also throw in Pilk and Morris into the 8th spot for length. Then the next question is, what need do we have? That is to fill in the 5th/6th and 7th starter roles until the big-3 are ready -- which means Gaddis, Curry, Pilk, Morris and Battenfield get thrown into the need category, more so than Santos. In addition, BOR starter has more trade value if developed at next deadline than a 6th inning reliever to fill other needs. Thus, trade Santos (if you need a 40 man spot) while he has value (which Curry and Gaddis have none of right now until they show their worth). Yet, if they think Miko, Hankins and Misiaszek can sneak through Rule 5 (thus not lose anything of value), then they will hold onto Santos till they see what their 8 relievers really look like come April.
