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remembering the Benuardo acquisition for a DH platoon, but in reality the things that stung so badly about those acquisitions were A) that they ossified the position with putrid production, and B) they cost two blue-chip prospects who were both very, very strong bets to become league average or better players at the time.
I do like this sequence, though, as DaddyO outlines it. If you were to trade Saunders for Smith, that would be sideways at best and a probable loss for the M's because Saunders wasn't utterly useless against lefties. But after that, you're talking about trading Maurer for Happ, which is a clear win for the M's, and then the Ruggiano for fungible, albeit talented, reliever piece still looks good on its own.
It's not a clear-cut masterstroke, but it *should* solidify the team at positions of need without surrendering anything of major long-term value. A platoon for COF, and a shot at a #2-3 SP is a whale of a third-tier combo. Nelson Cruz, as a #1 add, leaves a bit to be desired but he most certainly helps the team for at least a couple of years at a position, and with a skillset, that the organization doesn't seem ready to fill internally any time soon - not to a high standard, anyway.
These are good moves. I do, however, think the team needs to keep fighting for one more impact bat. Don't sell the farm for a Justin Upton-type, but if Tulo really does go on the block then I think the M's need to be FIRST in line.