Baseball can mean many different things to people however the bottom line is economics - It's a business. Sentiments and feel-good stories can play a part however opportunities/situational conditions must be examined closely and acted upon in a timely manner.
Procrastination, or not forcing another team to make a decision, can result in a lost opportunity. Case in point, Santana - whereby another team was allowed to become a player cause feet were being dragged on account of a few extra dollars. When the opportunity rears its head you have to strike before anyone else - this means you must have preconceived plans (Plan A, plan B, plan C... etc) and be ready to change directions as new information (this team is just not ready for prime time) becomes available. You must also have good scouts to know what is worth going after.