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I certainly agree that -113 is only one of many potential beginning points for assessing where the club stands today.
But, one needs to recall that the club was .500 and essentially run scoring neutral when Bradley (et al) were still playing full time.  The club lost its games (and run differential) AFTER most of the swaps were already made.  One *could* look at what the club did after July 5th (when they were 43-43 and minus 3 runs) and not the club was -110 runs over the last 76 games, which is AFTER Ackley had arrived and Bradley was long gone.
There's a mathetmatical approach that could (reasonably) suggest the current roster is actually closer to -200 runs, (if one were attempting to paint a worst case scenario).
One thing to remember about run differentials, however, is they include the pitching.  If you are going to wash away the Bradley and Cust contributions for 2012, fine.  Just be sure to wash away the Bedard, Fister and Pauley constributions, too.  There's about six and half WAR not on the current roster.
We can certainly discuss what the most reasonable assessment of where the current roster stands is.  There's lots of room for variance.
But, my original point stands.  In EVERY case cited in the above article of the uber-star coming in to make a difference, he was coming into a winning team -- not a team that appeared capable of winning on paper - a team that was already above .500 before he walked in the clubhouse.
Now, if Fielder were a 10 WAR guy, (like Bonds), I'd be excited.  He isn't.  For me?  I want 85 wins ( with a run differential that says it is a legit 85 wins), and then I'll GLADLY grab a drumstick and go to pounding to add whatever is needed to push the club over the top.