Keep going with the youth movement and get another top pick. Save money on FAs and sign international prospects and draft picks instead. We are not going to beat the Cards and Brewers next year.
Beat me to it. Agree 100%. Next year, we're going to be trotting out a very young lineup, capable of producing in bunches and prone to going cold. In the instances where we gain a late lead, a shutdown closer can instill a ton of confidence in a young group. If we plan to spend on anything, it should be support for our starting pitching (which we can all agree is shaky, at best). High hopes for Norris and Lyles, could be effective 2/3's, 3/4's at worst. Happ could be our tricky, lefty 2 after Wandy and Myers leave (by trade or whatever) if he could get his s*** together. The problem is that we're moving to the AL (I've made peace with it), and our new "rivals" are going to have a field day with our hitter-friendly park, while we struggle to adjust (just like our first season in the juice box). Having a pitcher capable of sustaining a late lead (or any lead for that matter) will ease the adjustment. Lidge didn't ask to leave like Oswrat, I have no problem with bringing him back.
For free agents that don't cost us draft picks to sign, I'm a big fan of this strategy. You're basically using payroll to indirectly acquire young talent.
