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But as a 98 mph righty, he's also up against this:
Farquhar, 96, 7.5 hits, 13K / 3.5 BB per 9 
Pryor, 97, 6 hits, 11.5K / 4.5 BB per 9 (minors)
Capps, 99, 7.5 hits, 12K / 3 BB per 9 (minors; 10.5 / 10 / 3.5 in the bigs)
Carson Smith, 97, 7 hits, 12K / 3.5 BB per 9 (minors, w/ just 3 HRs in 112 IP)
Logan Bawcom, 95, 8 hits, 9K / 3.5 BB per 9 (minors)
Tyler Burgoon, 95, 7.5 hits, 10.5 K / 3.5 BB per 9 (minors)
Those are JUST righties, and that list doesn't include Arias (9 / 10.5 / 4 in the upper minors this year with nasty stuff), or Leone (did throw 92, now throws 97 with accuracy & has 3.5 pitches) or Ruffin (back-end bullpenner getting back on the horse) or Snow (got back on HIS horse to the tune of 6.5 / 9/ 3).
If you think the rotation is packed with options, you ain't seen the pen guys. And it's not like Maurer has been lights-out while he's been in the pen. As you illustrated in your "point" post, he's been the same guy, just with the extra 10% (or whatever) pen edge.
Maurer in the pen: .857 OPS against
Capps in the pen: .875 OPS against
Which guy should get that pen shot as "the guy who loves his hittable slider and gets less out of his 98 mph fastball than he should?" If Maurer has a Capps-ian struggle, you bumping him to the pen in the minors, back to the rotation...?  Good way to screw a kid up, IMO.  "Start in the rotation in the minors, okay now to the bigs, no wait back to the rotation in the minors, okay to the bullpen in the bigs! Hang on, back to the minors in the, uh... bullpen.  No wait, the rotation!  Awwww, whammy..."
I just want a coherent plan for the kid.  Like I said, as funny as it is we don't NEED him in the pen if everybody's healthy.
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And as to what he would learn in the AAA rotation... well, he didn't demolish AAA when he was demoted (ERA over 5, five walks per 9, very hittable) and he never came up THROUGH there on his first trip to the bigs (we skipped him over AAA and dropped him straight into the bigs from AA).  
So yeah, he might have room to learn a little something. ;) And sometimes it's not about the competitors, it's about the teaching. Maybe the 2014 pitching coach has the right thing to say at the right time, and THAT'S what he needs to be around for.
But regardless, we're at a point now where we don't need to rush anybody.  Assuming we add a stud third starter, there are two rotation spots and a few pen roles.  We have Walker, E-Ram, Hultzen, Paxton and Maurer for those two rotation spots (and Elias as a dark horse even), with a dozen other arms fighting it out for the pen.
We don't have to mash Maurer into a role that we need filled - there are plenty of guys to fill roles, and the cream of the crop should rise to the top, yes?  If not, they can be demoted and replaced at will with other studs.
So just let Maurer pitch.  I'd have him in Tacoma, and when he demolishes AAA he can force his way back onto the big league roster, either in the pen or the rotation.  But we're past gift promotions now, or forcing a wrench to be a hammer.  We should have a full complement of both wrenches AND hammers come the Spring. I think Maurer is a AAA wrench in need of extra learnin' time.  If he comes to camp and looks like he doesn't, more power to him, but he should still be a starting wrench until there's a need in another area.
Tossing Maurer into the pen after Smith, Bawcom and Capps have all gone down in flames and Pryor is on DL again is one thing.  I don't mind that, and am glad we can grab a fistful of 95+ righties and throw them at the flames until the fire's extinguished. But deciding he should get promoted over those guys when he has stuff but no particular aptitude yet? Strikes me as hasty, Treebeard, very hasty, harruum.
~G