Appropriately timed example, because according to Lou Merloni, this is essentially how the Padres got Bogaerts. Apparently he was not their prime target, but Trea Turner was. However, Turner’s wife is from Philadelphia, and after they offered him $400mill, Turner all but begged the Padres not to counter. The Padres took their unspent capital and then offered the bulk of it to Bogaerts.
So, this does happen….