[Sylvanfan]

Yeah, the Vernon Wells contract really sticks out. I think that was the offseason where Ricciardi claimed he needed a higher budget to compete in the AL East.

A few teams can get caught trying to get too many veteran guys who make big salaries that they frankly aren't worth. With the way the MLB pay structure works, better off investing a few extra bucks on prospects. In the Pat Gillick days he did a pretty good job of keeping his better guys in house and went after free agents to try and find a couple players to put the team over the top. Hopefully with Hill and Lind a couple other guys like Snider and Wallace push through, and the pitching staff comes together. Than you can look to add a FA or two to try and make a real push.