It really seems like almost none of the big ones pan out anymore. I know that's not the case, but damn if there haven't been a lot of massive busts on huge contracts lately. This is true. But there's this meme that pops up every so often where people act like the FO skillfully avoided some anchor contracts when really they simply just didn't have/didn't spend the money. i would argue that in obtaining/locking up rizzo that that is definitively skillful. So what? The main reason they've skipped out on any big FA signings is because they didn't have the money to do so; you really think that if Ricketts had said "OK, you can spend whatever you need" they would have just ignored guys like Fielder or Pujols or Upton? the so what was contained in whether or not the moves they made (or didn't make, by proxy) were (or were not) skillful. they've bid high on players like tanaka. they did a better job by trading for, then locking up rizzo through what should be his peak years; and i don't think the current front office ignores any option, though that is opinion. i still doubt they would have signed fielder or pujols. either upton is not a concern in this conversation, which is based on filling a need at first base long term.