Sure Greg Maddux had bad years. His first and second year in the majors and the years after he turned 40 were nothing special at all.

Sorry for the double post, but the edit function isn't working.

Mike Leake is a fifth starter/long man/waiver wire guy and the Reds happen to have five pitchers they like better right now. Presumably they're going to keep him around and put him back in the rotation as soon as one of those five gets hurt (which likely as not will happen during spring training). I'm not sure what the story is here.

Mike Leake is a fifth starter/long man/waiver wire guy

Mike Leake's a heck of a lot better than that. His career OPS+ is 97 (average for NL starters last year), and he never misses a start. Most teams would love to have him.

the Reds happen to have five pitchers they like better right now

This is true, but being #5 or #6 on that staff is nothing to be ashamed of. I'd also say that if it wasn't for Arroyo's contract, he'd be more likely to be the odd man out, not Leake.

Mike Leake's future is to be eaten alive by Zombie Dusty Baker. I've seen it in the cards.

“Right now we have six starters, but I won’t use six at once and risk messing up guys like Cueto and Bronson Arroyo.”

Because in Dusty world, it's using pitchers *less* that messes them up.

I won’t use six at once and risk messing up guys like Cueto and Bronson Arroyo.

As if Cueto and Arroyo have a lot in common. They are both pitchers who throw righty, play for the Reds, their last names end in O .... why, they're interchangeable!

Most teams would love to have him.

I agree with this but there isn't a spot for him on the Reds if everyone'e healthy coming out of ST. Not sure what his option situation is but he could end up in AAA to begin the season.

Because in Dusty world, it's using pitchers *less* that messes them up.

Yes, it's hard to believe that in this day and age there are managers who are still wedded to archaic ideas like a five-starter rotation.

I won’t use six at once and risk messing up guys like Cueto and Bronson Arroyo.

As if Cueto and Arroyo have a lot in common. They are both pitchers who throw righty, play for the Reds, their last names end in O .... why, they're interchangeable!

My first thought was that it was because they both pitch better without the extra rest; I specifically remember Arroyo volunteering to pitch on short rest before.

However, their splits don't bear that out - it doesn't make any difference for Cueto at all, while the difference for Arroyo is that he pitches better on 3 days rest (only 8 starts, but a 3.19 ERA (a full run lower than his career 4.23)) but there's no difference in 4 or 5 days rest.

What is Mike Leake’s future?

He will meet a tall, dark stranger.

By BBREF:

Mike Leake pitching WAR: 1.7
Mike Leake batting WAR: 2.5 (.274/308/348).

He can go the Micah Owings route!