They aren't really paying 48m though (now 32 though they couldn't know that at the time), you need to factor in the amount they're saving this year and then will save next year when they presumably go back over the tax number.I agree with you, mostly, on the return. $48 million is an awful lot of money to pay for a guy with a broken back, a potential utilityman, and one prospect with real upside as an above average everyday player. Now if the Dodgers were eating Price's deal outright I'd shrug, but they weren't.
And if either downs or verdugo, nevermind both, ends up being at least an average MLB player they'll make up that money in the cost controlled years.