against all odds, i don't really backload my contracts. they are normally evenly distributed except for the option year.
also, i normally don't end up pawning off the FA's I sign. if i'm paying up to sign a free agent, odds are that i really, really like him. if i sign him, that means i probably like him more than anybody else.
my MO in trades isn't to sell snake oil to people, it's to sell off useful assets for either more useful assets or somebody that fills a need.