They might have seen the pitching window closing - Lackey on his last legs, Lester approaching mid-30's, Arrieta an impending free agent, and no pitching prospects in the upper levels to replace them - and went for it. They can spend in free agency, but there is no guarantee that players will sign with them as they are competing with a number of other teams for free agents (NYY, BOS, LAD, LAA, WAS, ATL, SFG, STL, etc.) We lament the historical lack of drafted/developed pitching for the Brewers, but the Cubs are arguably worse in that department - I believe the only pitcher on their current roster or 2016 World Series team who they drafted was Rob Zastryzny.