I’m more bullish on Davies than most and still believe he can be a legit #4 starter in the majors. That said I’m good with Tejeda or Davies in the #5 spot with the other guy pitching out of the bullpen.

The only downside to the experiment is the potential loss of work for other more viable options. If you know the outcome of an experiment, is it worth testing? The scientist part of my brain says sure, but the baseball fan in me says no.

1. He’s getting paid too much to pitch in no-leverage relief appearances. With the game on the line in relief, he proved to be utterly ineffective.

2. He could blow out his arm.

I don’t like the underlying philosophy inherent in accepting #1 as it obviously stunts the growth of others.

Of your rotation options, I really think Aaron Crow should probably start the season in the minors, even if he pitches well in Spring Training. The Royals have hastily accelerated the development of their top prospects far too often in the past, as recently as Hosmer last season, and the results have been almost entirely bad. Crow should at least get a little seasoning in Triple-A before a midseason call-up, especially given that he has had the greater part of the past two summers off.

I do wonder if Davies wouldn’t be better suited for the bullpen. I really think Osuna is bullpen fodder this season as well, as is Brad Thompson. At the very least, Thompson, Campillo, and Bullington are all sitting in Triple-A ready to spot start as injuries force the Royals to call up O-Royals.

I don’t think this will work. Unfortunately, Farnsworth is not a set-up man either. I really think the fifth spot in the rotation is Tejeda’s to lose (I’m already sadly ceding the fourth spot to Hoch regardless of his February and March results), but his control issues have me worried as far as sustained success is concerned.

I mostly just don’t see what they’ve got to lose by seeing if they can stretch him out, and maybe reteaching him how to be a starter can turn him into a more effective reliever.