Here's the point you are missing...Walt isn't gunning for this season. He didn't give $50MM to 2 pitchers for 2009-2010. He didn't give $46MM to a closer for 2008-2011. He didn't extend Phillips. He is looking to build for the long haul, not for "now".
This team should be competitive this season and that is good for this franchise since it has been a while since we have been able to say that. But the fact that Walt gets no credit for the 2010 rotation doesn't really mean anything to me. I am much happier that he has added Leake and Chapman than the fact that we have Arroyo and Harang to watch this season. I am much more excited for 2012 than 2010.
We all realize that the Arroyo trade was a positive one and that Cordero made the bullpen better. But they aren't why the future of this team looks so good.