Let's break this down into simpler terms. The price for relief pitching is clearly inflated. Prices are irrefutably on the rise. None of the relievers on the market have signed with the Brewers. It appears as though the Brewers would have had to offer more to all signed RPs so far with perhaps Swarzak as the one exception. Thus yes, the Brewers would have had to overpay to get someone to sign on the dotted line. Three other points to consider. One, all free agent relief pitchers who could reasonably be considered a positive addition to the pen have not yet been signed. Two, there will almost assuredly be RPs who have yet to sign, who will later sign at lower annual amounts, who will prove very valuable in 2018. And three, the offseason is not over yet.