If Elder gets 20-25 starts, we are in big trouble.
He is currently, at best, 6th among SP options going into 2026 behind, Sale, Schwelly, Strider, Lopez, and Waldrep . And that is being pretty optimistic, because I would be more willing to give Holmes or one of the top prospects an extended look in the rotation before I give Elder more than 5 starts this year.
If we sign another SP, that moves Elder down to the 7th spot (again, at best). As I've said before, unless we are trying Elder in the pen during ST, it's pretty likely he will be traded before the start of the season, because he isn't making the rotation and he's out of options.