‘When trying to figure out what’s going to happen around the league — without any concrete indications from teams — I think you start with what expectations for certain teams might be, or should be, and also what might be on the line personally for the men in charge. In Buffalo, McDermott and Beane don’t have to win next year, as in, they won’t be around past that if they don’t. The plan here was to build something, and the rookie option qualifies for a team of that standing.’