With Max only under contract for another year (plus deferred money) now would be the time to sign his successor.
Alternately, given the way the team spends and who it chooses to lock down, you could say that Strasburg is Max's replacement. If they really want to rebuild around a core of Soto, Robles, Strasburg, Turner, and ?maybe Kieboom? then you're going to see Max walk and no big free agent pitcher signing. We don't have enough to offer in trade for a top flight pitcher unless they have an obscene contract, had an off year this season, and we take all the money. If we don't sign any big name free agent starters this year, than see you in 2023 - the rebuild is on. If they do sign a pitcher it means they're expecting to be competitive by 2022 at the latest and aren't going to go into full blow it up mode.
