Well. It is so that the only possibility for trades were the ones Bloom made? Looking at what SF gave for Bryant, was that impossible? It's all on a continuum, no? It's not like either Bloom gives up the farm or can only get an injured guy. There surely must have been a half way point between, and a quarter point, and a three quarter point, etc. Extend a bit more and they may have gotten Bryant, or Gibson, or Rizzo ...I do understand they didn't have enough to get two of those kinda guys, or do what the Dodgers did. Is it possible though - along that continuum - that Bloom couldn't have extended a bit more? Or is it black and white? So, Bryant, Rizzo, one of the second tier starting pitchers if what I was thinking of ...Mind you, I like Schwarb, he will help ... just needed help now.
Meanwhile, you can put "energize" in quotes as if it is a silly concept. I admit this isn't exactly apples to apples (may be more like apples to pears) but ...(forgive apparent self-importance, really trying to make a point) as a professional director, performer, working on national TV and theater for 30 years, and head of a nationally known training program, people do indeed energize other people in groups/teams/casts/ensembles/classes, and that in turn effects performance. Even with well established pros, the right personality changes the energy. Some new blood can til the soil ... whatever other hackneyed metaphor. But it's true. Hard to remember in this age of zoom meetings etc., but people effect dynamics and dynamics in turn lift people (with all the best live performance, the whole is always greater) ... as JFK (?) said, "as the tide rises so all the boats rise ..."
No question Sale's health comes first. Though he is slinging it to AAA players. So he's taxing his arm, seemingly going all out. At this point, given the state of the team, maybe better to do that with the big club? I'm pretty certain he was headed for one less rehab start .. admittedly I'm little too busy/lazy to look up news links that say is much. Maybe my memory is faulty, but I'm pretty sure.
Meanwhile, why the Houck temporary demotion when he was slinging, they are desperate for quality innings from starters, and they had other guys with options?