1. Sign Ellsbury. Put him in CF, move him to LF when Buxton is up. You now have an elite defensive OF, and a legit veteran ..... they have the money, and he's worth more to the team than a 4th/5th starter type. 2. Sign Tanaka, I'd bid in the 40-50MM range. If that isn't enough, oh well. 3. Start Hicks in AAA, have him stop switch hitting. Move him up if/when he's ready. Arcia in RF all year. Backup type in LF until Buxton is up. 4. Mauer to 1B / DH full time. 5. Sano and Rosario in AAA to start the year, move them up when they are close to ready, not when they've "proved everything". 6. Sign a SP that used to be good, but had a higher ERA and lower FIP (i.e., follow the Pirates' plan). 7. Escobar starts at SS, with Floriman as your backup. 8. Trade/cut Doumit, let a random younger player be the backup RF/DH/1B. 9. Let Pelfrey walk. I doubt that's my whole plan..... Tanaka=3-5 wins over the last pitcher this year Ellsbury =3-5 wins over what Hicks did this year Sano for half a year = 1-3 wins over Plouffe Random SP to replace Pelfrey = 1-3 wins Pinto at C=about a wash with Morneau at 1B Mauer for 160 games=1-3 wins over Mauer for what he played this year Arcia better, and up all year=1-2 wins I'd think Add some luck, you are competitive. Get lucky and Buxton is ready, add more. Get lucky with random players, you are more than competitive..... A lot needs to go right for that to work, but it is better than standing pat. And, there is not a ton of money spent here.....Ellsbury and Tanaka are it for the big bucks long term.