What If... Forst was given a mandate by Fisher to clear Aledmys off the books? Sure, the A's are $20 MM under last year's payroll but Fisher has to pay Alemeda County $45 MM sometime in 2024 for his 2019 purchase of the county's portion of the Colesium complex. Since Diaz has to go and the FO is still under the same leadership, the Forst is a Dummy Tax will be in effect. Therefore, the best Oakland can do is get 17.5 BTV in return and their trade partners are limited to the teams that have shown a clear willingness to spend money...The Phillies are all about contending for a WS in 2024 but backstop mainstay J.T. Realmuto turns 33 before Opening Day and might be showing signs of wear. Backup Garrett Stubbs is fine but would likely struggle in a bigger role. Their best C prospect (according to BA) spent 2023 in the DSL so there's an organizational gap where Tyler Soderstrom would fit; close enough to be a factor in 2024 if Realmuto struggles but young enough to feel good about him starting the year as the primary Catcher in AAA. Crawford is a toolshed but a multi-year project. Marchan becomes redundant with Soderstrom on board. McCollum has the stuff but his Command needs to make a major leap to factor in a contender's bullpen... The A's clear Diaz's contract (Priority #1) while adding a super-athletic outfielder with big league bloodlines. The A's love athletes with bloodlines, as evidenced by their drafting of Logan Davidson (1st, 2019) Soderstrom (1st, 2020) Denzel Clarke (4th, 2021) Daniel Susac (1st, 2022) Jacob Wilson and Myles Naylor (1st, 2023). Marchan gives them a defensive minded Catcher 2 behind Langeliers. McCollum is big-bodied with a big, live arm that needs to throw more strikes, i.e. their new prototype trade target.