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Branyan came to Seattle for ONE reason.  It was likely the ONLY team in all of baseball that told Branyan he'd get a legitimate shot at being a FULL TIME PLAYER.
Sexson was signed at age 30.  Beltre at age 26.
Abreu is 35.  So, no.  The same arguements don't even remotely hold true.  If a player thinks his career is winding down at 30, there is something very, very, very wrong. 
As for Washburn ... he ALREADY has his WS ring.  He was the ACE of a staff that won a world series, (though he utterly tanked himself in that series).  Nonetheless, he already had his ring, AND he was only 31 when he arrived in Seattle.
My entire point was that players motivations CHANGE with time ... which is why I specifically noted that Dunn would've been a different case.  But Sean Casey doesn't sign on to be a bench player for $800K if he's going to KC.  He does, if he can play for Boston in a season where a WS trip seems likely.
This doesn't mean EVERY player has the same motivations.  But, the better the player, the more choice and control he has over his ultimate destination.