OK, let's look at some payroll numbers:
2016 = 152M (9th)
2017 = 176M (7th)
2018 = 151M (11th)
The idea that this team is going to be limited by payroll is not realistic. We had a very large payroll during the short competitive window, with Martin, Reyes, and Tulo all acquired on massive free agent contracts.
Assuming Rogers will allow the team to once again have a top 10 payroll when it's time to compete, we can stop pretending that that we're a mickey mouse organization that can't play at the top end of the free agent market. There's no reason why the team can't go get an ace on the market, aside from risk aversion from management.