Let's look at Boston again. Even the smallest of markets could use this strategy. That should be enough to buy a couple of position players, maybe two starters and two or three relievers, all big names. Add those to that young nucleus and see what happens. Sign all the free agents to multi-year contracts, with the balance coming in the first year or two, so they'll still have trade value later.
Mercenaries can be useful when used correctly.
Is it good for the game - probably not. Kariakin is a fourth-year political science student.