Cheap as in not tipping on free frozen yogurt, cheap?
Jost's salary needs to come in somewhere between the free frozen yogurt and the cost of the gas money it took to deliver it for it to be worth keeping him. It seems like there should be a ton of TJs available for league minimum, but I am much too lazy to research it or truly, truly care. Great kid, though.
I could be wrong, but I have a hard time seeing Jost get more than around $1.5M on the Avs. $1.75M at most, but even that when I think about it seems a little unlikely.
I think he can get more from another team, and I can see him being traded, but the Avs just aren't in a position to gamble on Jost like that anymore. The cap is too tight, he hasn't fully established himself, and this would be Jost's third contract with them.
He helps the team out like the original poster mentioned (especially defensively) but they should also be able to replace him if they need to, as you mention.