IDGAF what payroll is or was, but the fact that it decreased this season makes these moves even worse.
And the fact that Dayton wasn't "planning" on replacing Ventura doesn't excuse the fact that we have two average starters and a battery of washed up tweener starter/long term reliever guys we're praying to god can use up 170+ innings (with no HGH to clean up).
There were better options at every spot we knew, and have known, needed replacement, and DM fell flat on his face replacing them through organizational development, trades or FA acquistion.
You can Rany Dorkzerly the analysis in terms of dollars all you want, and WAR. It doesn't excuse the lack of foresight. Fact is only 10 guys play at once, and our 10 on any given night is bottom half (maybe third) of the AL. Rany was a real tard when DM was building something, and he's a real tard about how great it looks crumbling down.