I've already noted the Paxton free agency issue. If you're saying he should be the acquisition, we're absolutely in agreement. The rest of the comment is spot on. But, the answer to your question is "maybe." Trying to buy a team in free agency is a very risky proposition. The guy (Sale) gets injured or underperforms (Carl Crawford, Rusney Castillo) and you have a lot less financial flexibility, i.e., a big problem. I believe in building from within, then filling in holes via free agency/trade. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
I believe in that, too... which is why I've felt a lot of the Bloom hate over the last few years is pretty silly.
But it's time to start taking advantage of all the young cost-controlled talent & resetting the luxury tax this year.
They will be $60m+ under the tax after arb awards on their current players & they do not need to stay under the #.
There are very few hitting positions where there is going to be a clear upgrade over either a current major leaguer or a guy on the near horizon who you won't want to block.
They have done a good job with these bargain basement deals when they needed those guys to fill out the roster due to a lack of cost controlled talent, & they should be still looking for the next Whitlock, etc. But trying to acquire a 4th or 5th starter in FA doesn't move the needle at all.
If you don't think the price is right on any needle movers, use your budget to buy out some arb years & the 1st couple years of free agency on some of your guys or take on other people's bad contracts for the right incentive.
But it will be finally time to make impact moves, & that doesn't mean signing the next Richards/Perez/Wacha/Kluber.
Paxton can be the acquisition if the price is right. Or anyone else. But if Paxton gets $20+ for multiple years, I'm not that into it.