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1. Keep stockpiling young talent.
2. Use the surplus to fill holes (Paxton could be the Pineda of next offseason?)
3. Use fitness/conditioning to maximize talent (Carp in '11; Smoak in '12?)
4. Keep Felix feeling happy and beloved (next "big FA signing" will be Felix extension?)
5. Have more "free talent" than the other teams
He said on the radio that when they got here the team had no "free talent" (guys under club control playing for virtually no salary but contributing significantly).  His goal has been to not only create that, but keep it coming.  Then you can spend money to fill the gaps.
Grizz is right -- sounds like Sandy!
In that regard, Cliff Lee, Figgins, Kotchman, whatever, were just window-dressing and sideshows (a few millions to sorta -- unsuccessfully -- keep things pretty) while the real story has been building infrastructure through the draft and international signings.
Matt, that's what you gotta root for -- the Z-crew's ability to compile more "free talent" than LAAA and TX, then know what to do (Putz trade, Lee trade, Montero) with the surplus.