Here's an example from my primary team, the Mets.
Billy Eppler wasn't viewed real great as a front office executive by Mets fans. The 2023 season was a complete disaster and everyone knew that Steve Cohen was eyeing the hiring of David Stearns in the offseason.
Come late June the lame duck GM nonetheless started selling off players, trading away 7 players, including some high payroll players with multiple years remaining. In return he was able to acquire a prospect that was then flipped for their current CF, their #1 Setup man, and #6, #9, #10, #13, #25 prospects in addition to the previous years #3 prospect that's been fairly effective as a sparkplug utility man.
If you're going to sell, sell with purpose.