For fun, suppose we get a contributor for Bell + Edwards (say a corner player), decide to pencil in Garcia at second, and Robles looks like a #9 batter who gives you great defense and a .320 OBP (like he did this year if you knock out May). No Soto trade, and Ruiz as the primary catcher. That's basically 5 positions covered, with one superstar, an above average catching situation, maybe an average 2nd baseman and an average 3rd baseman, and a subpar but not disastrous CF. Glaring hole at SS, 2 corner bats, and probably a DH needed. Add in a rotation of Gray, Cavall, Henry, Fedde, and a corpse (Corbin eating innings, Stras emerging healed after a visit to Lourdes, whatever). That sort of team could at least be middling as soon as next year with a few smart signings and deals - a Winker / Suarez deal with a team that flinches at paying $18 million a year for an All Star and a power hitter, plus an Adam Duvall / Mark Canha sort of signing. Do that as a holding pattern while the De la Rosas and other position players mature in the minors for another year or two.
To my eye, that's a lot more appealing than the course we are on, especially since tanking does not really pay in MLB, especially with the draft changes.