I guess it depends on how you define "deep" - the talent level of the group of free agent starting pitchers relative to the group of starting pitchers that will remain under contract this offseason isn't great, and it never will be. However, the group of free agent starting pitchers is quite deep when you compare it with previous offseasons. It isn't a bunch of top end guys (though there are a few of those), but there are a bunch of starters who will deservedly get multi-year deals, if they want them. Among them, Joe Blanton, Ryan Dempster, Zack Greinke, Edwin Jackson, Hiroki Kuroda, Colby Lewis (if healthy), Francisco Liriano (maybe not deserving, but probably will get one), Kyle Lohse, Shaun Marcum (if healthy), Brandon McCarthy (if healthy), Anibal Sanchez and Joe Saunders. Other guys like Ervin Santana (if his option is declined), Carlos Villanueva, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Jeremy Guthrie, Kevin Correia and Erik Bedard will all get major league deals, if not for more than a year. Some teams will fill rotation holes via trade, which further dilutes the pool. That's kind of a lot of guys who are capable of giving lots of at least decent major league innings.