I agree; it's a worthy and interesting question which was bashed with threats and ridicule when trying to present the matter in other threads (Brave TroySkiles started his own thread at great peril! Bravo!)
Some just won't admit that the top 1-5 choices may simply not be available (or possibly affordable, interested, or acceptable)... especially if certain BOT and other parties continue to seek derailment (of those 1-5, and ADs) in their misguided attempts to "save Manny".
I think the answer is yes though... as EL and others point out, the difficulty in attracting recruits and staff and prospering with a Lameduck Manny, despite 7-5 being better than 5-7 and 6-6 in my North Florida household comparisons) is that we may indeed be best off taking a nbr 7-8-9 guy, that might not be the complete cat's meow (even with the fat cat's new money.)
I also wonder if it's feasible to hire a search firm on the QT to do an "anyone better than Manny" search while keeping Manny technically unFired, in case they don't find anyone better available. (yes, I shudder at that thought.)