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I can tell you why I don't think they'll set the world on fire this off-season.
First, everyone acts as if they didn't try the face-lift before they came in with the sledgehammers for the demolition-and-rebuild.  What about the 2009-10 offseason?
Cliff Lee, a Cy Young winner and October hero
Chone Figgins (remember we're thinking in time-context), coming off an All-Star season with 101 walks and was (yes, he was) tied with A-Rod for10th in the MVP balloting.
Milton Bradley had more red flags than Figgy, but was just one year removed from a .999 OPS and 161 OPS+ that, yes, led the AL in both categories.
Casey Kotchman was mocked plentifully and did, in fact, crater while a Mariner, but if you don't think the underlying fundamentals were there, check out his minor league stats, his 10% career K% (that's super-low) and his 128 OPS+ in 2011.
None of it worked out.  Does it mean they'll never try again?  NO!
Does it mean they are no longer trying to hit the "Ichiro window" (which also coincides with the expiration of Felix' current contract).  YES.
Z got them to buy off, finally, on the retirement of the patch-and-fill approach.  No more Shin-Soo Choos shipped out to shore up 85-win teams.  But it didn't start until the Lee-Smoak trade.
They are, finally, building for the long haul.  You don't think Z noticed how long it took for his Brewer core to reach a championship level?
They will absolutely not start tearing up that core before it even gets off the ground.  [Why the heck would you trade an inexpensive stud like Pineda?]
Nor will they make expensive long-term commitments to 1b/DH types before they see what they've got in Smoak and Carp [which looks to be something pretty awesome, and a lot cheaper].
I could see making an exception for Fielder, since he is a true talent who will only be available this once.  But if the market is hot, he won't be interested, and if the market is soft, I don't know why he wouldn't just stay in Milwaukee.
I have already proposed David Wright and Andre Ethier, but not if it takes ripping up the young core.  If they can be had for a Lee-like non-core group, then go for it.
Sizemore is worth a look but the "name brand" might drive up his cost.  David DeJesus is a guy who's been pretty productive (very low K%) and will cost a lot less.  If you want a RH outfield option, Josh Willingham is a consistent 20-HR, 60-BB guy who's been right around 6 RC/27 for six years in a row.  Not as many fireworks as Casper Wells, but more consistency.
I think that is more along the lines of the aisle that the Ms will be shopping in, although I think they'd really like a 3b more than an OF -- there just aren't really any FA options there.