Good thinking, Cron.
Except that Melo is not easy to sell. Quite the contrary, even.
Also, easier to sell as a champion than when you are 7th makes remarkably little sense. Considering that Melo was not part of the team and all.
No one is easy to sell for Marotta...
It makes quite the difference to some, personally i dont follow the logic, but we did it when it wasnt in our interest, now its time to benefit from it.
When you are selling out your best performer for half of his value, not because he didnt do well, but because you are 7th and out of the CL, with the same logic, you are in a much higher negotiating status now.
Melo himself may not be a champion, but he is not 7th either, this and the fact Marchisio who ws consistently worse than him in the same condition, is now a champion, follow the logic we applied last summer...