For a guy whose pre-season ultimatum for 5 years at $150M, let's reflect on the aging star who missed 176 games played in the last 5 years -- or more than a full season in absentia. Think at 36 he's going to get more durable? Best to limit contract period, as BJs wanted his bat, but also desperate for corner OF.

Oh, and according to Baseball-Reference.com, he was a position player in 553 of the 810 regular season games since the start of 2012. That's 81 games at DH, or another half-season of NOT playing in the field.

So fewer than 3 1/2 seasons out of last 5 to play defence -- maybe a good thing, considering his precipitous decline in fielding and arm strength.

If they hadn't signed the aging Morales, then permanent DH would have been a way to keep his bat and OBP in the game.

No youth, no bullpen replacements, a switch-hitter for part-time LH bat, and still no corner outfielder for Saunders and JB. Sure hope the kids and the rotation repeat their 2016 success.