Well said. Going back to the list I posted yesterday, none of the guys we may have later missed would have really made much of a difference for the 2012-16 Phillies, except in terms of assets they may have brought back in trades. And, even then, from that group, I only really see Carrasco, D'Arnaud, Villar and Cosart becoming genuine trade pieces, either in terms of themselves being the trade pieces or making guys like Galvis/Hernandez and Rupp whom they blocked expendable. That, however, is all strictly conjecture. The fact remains that none of the prospects we traded, had they stayed Phillies, would have significantly increased our fortunes over the last five years on the field and none of them have emerged as true stars, except for maybe Carrasco. Considering how long it took for things to click with Carrasco (his 10th season as a pro), I am skeptical that Amaro & Co would have had the patience for it all to work out with him here and not just cut him at some point.
And, I would have to agree that the jury is still out for Houston's total return on the Pence trade, pending what the assets they got for Cosart and Santana ultimately do. But, if they never traded Cosart and Santana, the deal probably wouldn't look so consequential for them. The trade would basically be Pence for capped success from Cosart and Zeid, crossed fingers that Santana eventually blossoms and wishes that they never heard of Singleton. So, in a way, both CD and andyb's & Julio's camp are right.
However, if I'll say so myself, it looks like the Marlins had rocks in their heads for giving up all that they did for Cosart (although the guy they got along with him later fetched them Dee Gordon).