I doubt Velasquez is ever going to make it as a starter, as soon as the young fireballers arrive he's bullpen bound. I see no evidence that he's improved his command, and he's not that valuable as a 100+ pitches in 5 innings with the inevitable meltdown inning where he walks two guys and gives up a couple hits. Out of the pen he could uptick the velocity, focus on just the slider, and maybe be a late innings guy. His curve and changeup are minus pitches, and he slows his arm down on his two seamer.
Pivetta has four pitches, though he needs to use his secondary pitches more, locate his four seamer better and develop a two seamer so hitters can't time the four seamer. But I think he has far more upside than Velasquez.
Eflin on the other hand bears watching, he's throwing as hard as Velasquez this spring, is younger and just learning how to pitch with his new body.
Thompson can be very effective if he maintains 92-93 because he has solid secondary pitches. His velocity fell off last season to a tad above 91. His change improved last year, he has an effective slider, so if the uptick in velocity can be sustained, he can be an effective pitcher.
Lively and a healthy Eickhoff are innings eaters, and nothing wrong with that, the number of starters that throw 162 innings each year is usually a little over 100, or about 3 per team - and without these guys you have to use your 6th and 7th starters, who are often below replacement level. Eickhoff's lack of velocity is concerning, but what really hurt him last year was his 2 seamer and slider. If he could develop a changeup it would be a big plus. Lively has the 2 FBs, curve and slider, but could also use a changeup.
