I'm pretty sure, he found out what offers were out there for those two, plus Wacha, Strahm and maybe even Kike, but I doubt the latter, as they just extended him.
IMO, JD is not getting a QO, so I'd have paid some or most of his contract and gotten the best we could, even if a Hamilton or Binelas type prospect.
If they intend to offer Nate a QO, the return would need to be greater, but getting us under the tax line has some very high benefits, in coming years.
Same with Wacha and the QO, but trading him would have been a clear white flag. My guess is, he'd have gotten the best return, but alone would not help us reset.
Strahm would not have brought back much, but maybe more than JD with no money attached.
The question to me is "what was considered "the right return?"