Many of the things you wrote are true. But at least they TRIED. It didn't work out for them. Same for the Mets and the Rangers. Injuries were a big reason the Padres and Mets didn't make it. And when DeGrom went down, many thought that was it for them too. Who won it all? Standing pat or cutting costs might work out too. But it's doubtful. A team would have to have above avg. performances from multiple players. Not impossible, but highly unlikely.