1
What does it matter if they have to draw back the fans? Assuming they do (they do), how does that affect their rebuilding plan? It's been proven many times that signing marquee free agents gives a tiny attendance boost that dies very quickly and doesn't help to increase payroll much at all. We've shown that making like the Marlins and winning for only one year at a time doesn't bring attendance; attendance tends to show up the year after the team first starts winning and goes away pretty quickly if the team starts losing again. If they want the payroll back, they need to build a sustainable winner--which is what they're trying to do. What change in game plan are you suggesting?