Just pitch 6 innings and give up 3 or 4 runs and that's good enough for the #5 guy.
If we're setting the bar this low lets go get Livo. He can probably still throw up the 5.25 ERA you're talking about.
In all seriousness, I wouldn't mind Lannan on a 1/$3 million deal or something. We wouldn't be relying on him to pitch in the playoffs, and our 5th starter +- 1 WAR is really not going to affect whether we make the playoffs or not.
However, I have an expectation of modest payroll improvements now that we're a playoff team. So if they cheap out on the 5th starter, I would hope they extend Desmond and Zimmermann (or something equivalent). In fact, that might be my preference.
