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and their relative likelihood to impose themselves in Seattle.
Achilles (which I think is the perfect name for him, well-done if that was your own labeling) last experienced sustained peace and success in Oakland and Texas.  Those two teams are significantly different from Chicago in that they are decidedly NOT possessing of a rabid media market like the Windy City (whose nickname was earned due to the blow-hard politicians and media entities of the day comparing it favorably to the bigger cities like New York, leading to the somewhat derisive nickname).  Chicago sportswriters really do operate differently, in a fundamental way, from most sportswriters.  They believe they are a significant, or even essential component of the experience, and boy do they like their power.
Seattle, Texas and Oakland don't have that type of mentality.  The times we get upset to see the local writers dogging a guy, the writers in NY, Boston or Chicago would laugh at us in the vein of "boy, you ain't never SEEN a writer get into a player's business if you're offended by THAT."
That, combined with the factors you mentioned, should make for a great launching pad for MB to impose his will on the league.
When I construct rosters on OOTP, MLB: The Show, or the few times I've dabbled in online leagues, I follow a similar strategy to you.  Load the top with the best you can possibly fit, scatter the bottom with versatile and cheap guys, but I always roll the dice a couple of times on a Harden/Sheets/Bedard/MB type project.  It's probably part of why I don't win as much as I might otherwise, but when it pays off it does so in a big, big way.
50% chance of 450 AB's of .900 OPS from MB, for the cost of a mediocre reliever?  Thank you very much, do you have another?