Thoughts in no particular order.
Really seems like it will have to be the end for WMB for the year if everyone stays healthy. Herrera would seem to be the guy to stay up -- nobody else can play 2B in a backup role, as noted.
I would have liked to have seen WMB closer to 650 PAs over last year and this before they gave up on him, but the bottom line is that sporting a .300 OBP over about 420 PAs this and last year, plus not being able to stay on the field, has been a problem. If there was no acceptable 3B on the market, and the perception was that Drew would be gone elsewhere once out from the under the QO albatross, they couldn't wait.
I don't get the angst over Xander at 3B. Sure, I would have liked to see him get another month or so of reps at SS in MLB, but if there's no 3B out there in the trade market, you can't let the perfect be the enemy of the good. A left side of Drew and Bogaerts is one to be excited about -- you could win a world series with a left side like that. I've seen it happen.
The biggest bummer about all this is that if Drew plays well, we're the team giving him his audition for the MFY. But, whatever -- that was going to be the case wherever he went. It's May 20 -- there was no way he was going to sign anywhere before the draft baring a major injury somewhere, and even then probably, so those worried about losing the draft pick, I think it was a pipe dream at this point.