The reality of Friday's surprising trade of Alex Colome and Denard Span to Seattle is, of course, between the extremes.
One side is screaming this is the latest proof the Rays are driven more to pocket money than winning games (and, for the loudest, on their way OUT OF TOWN!); don't care about the fans' loyalty or team chemistry in dumping two more key veterans for unheralded prospects; and are perpetuating a fallacious narrative about building for a future that will never get here.
The other is congratulating the Rays for taking advantage of Seattle's largesse in a no-brainer to deal two players whose trend lines and trade values were going down in pre-empting what will be a tough July market for midtier veterans; for landing a potential midrotation starter in Andrew Moore; for banking $9 million for future financial flexibility; and for accelerating a transition to the young core of players they have good reason to be confident will bring success sooner than later.