A quibble, mainly, because I agree with your principle: this would be enough for 1 difference maker, more or less. Money spent on 2 and 3 year contracts make this $51M sum something like $10+M a year. Nolasco territory. A 3 year contract for $51M might have gotten us someONE who would move the needle (although needle-movers generally demand and get more security than 3 years).

 

Except of course that he'd need TJ surgery in May of his first year.

 

 

We shouldn't ignore historical context. The team basically was short about 8 needle-movers and had about eleventeen holes to fill. Had Ryan ignored the Josh Willinghams and instead opted for some $51M "difference-maker", that guy would have been high-fiving about eleventeen empty uniforms after every loss and the needle would have moved even further in the wrong direction.

 

When I interviewed Hahn this spring, he mentioned that they were looking to do a "quality over quantity" rebuild. He cited the rebuild that the Padres have undertaken and mentioned that the path they are taking will take years to achieve, though building  up their system in that manner will be fruitful for a long run. They were looking for 2-3 elite pieces back in a trade this winter than 5-7 very good pieces. He acknowledged that there are many who would say their farm system could have used the depth, but he was very adamant about pursuing top level guys being the strategy they will continue in future moves, both in the acquisition of amateur talent and in making trade acquisitions.

 

Robert may blow their July 2017 out of the water, but they have a guy in hand now that many have considered one of the best prospects in baseball the moment he puts on his first uniform. That to go with the #1 prospect in all of baseball, three pitching prospects who rank in the top 25-30 prospects in the entire game, and a few other big pieces from those trades as well, all acquired since 2016's season closed.

 

 

There's more than one way to skin a cat, and certainly the strategy is dictated to an extent by what a team has for tradable assets. The CWS appear to be executing to near perfection. To me, the most important lesson to be learned is to get paid handsomely for your current assets.The Whities should be grateful for the generosity they've been shown. An admirable year of transactions for them!