We're talking going forward, and it's debatable whether singing Santana a fraction of the going rate for top free agent pitching is "of note," but I'll grant you this one. Signing Santana hasn't hurt the Twins one bit. He's probably their opening day starter, is a good bet to lead the staff this year, is only owed for this season and next, and his contract doesn't limit them financially in the least. Santana is an argument to sign more and better free agent pitching. As for Hughes, he was a cheap free agent pickup. It's the extension that hurts. In any case, I simply don't think there's an argument against seriously pursuing top free agents. At least not one based on something other than ownership's profit margins. They are going to supplement the pitching staff from outside the org...no team gets all it's pitching from its own system. Might as well supplant at the top.