I agree that that was their position on a maximum offer.
I don't think it was "competitive," but I think they viewed it as such.
At some point, to get real good talent, you have to bite the bullet and overpay. More importantly, you have to correctly identify who that guy should be. When we signed Price, I could think of no surer bet that he seemed to be. They go burned.
The Story and Yoshida signings were not "the guys" in anybody's view, failed as well. I can see why JH & Co. are gun shy. I get it, and maybe they just haven't seen the right guy come along. they seemed to be willing to go super large and long on Soto, but again fell significantly short of paying what it took to get him. As far as I know, we haven't come close to a similar FA offer, and I can't help but think, they money was "there" for Soto, so where did it go?
(Or was that offer just for show?)