[Pelican]

I think there may be a middle ground here. It doesn't have to be all or nothing. You could selectively re-sign free agents that - as others have observed - you think have a better chance of wearing well (not the catcher). I'd tend to be more comfortable with older guys in the corner OF spots, 3B, 1B, and younger quicker guys up the middle. A mix of talent on the filed and in the lineup would put less pressure on the young guys to produce. The best approach may be a meticulous case-by-case analysis, with different answers for different free agents, depending on young talent (or lack thereof) and their demands.

One other point on aging free agents. I have proposed multi-year deals where the annual amount goes down, not up. I understand the time value of money, and the benefit of deferred compensation. But I prefer to pay salaries that reflect value in a given year, and that value is bound to be reducing. That approach also frees up some money down the road. The players [the AI] have accepted such deals, so I must be doing something right. I may pay a bit more sooner, but less money overall. Players [the AI] can be short-sighted.