Still the thing what is causing this were those Sammy's threats to argue about the possible buyout because he'll had an injury. If they would have bought Sammy out, there won't be any forward logjam or cap-problems.
If Sammy would have been bought out, no one would whine that much about Cleary signing, because blocked Nyquist down etc. At least, on this day when Tootoo is waived, it would have been recall day for Gus. But at current situation, we have waive another body before that happens.
I understand the logic, Holland thought that the team is overall better, when hitting at the playoffs, if Cleary is playing instead of Sammy. Cleary maybe kills the offense, but he helps the PK and is more useful tool than Sammy. Because Helm-situation was still unsecure, Cleary-extension was some kind of reasonable logic. Now, Helm is healthy, things turned better than the worst-case scenario (Helm never returns), and we have too many bodies to fit that one kid in.
Mostly those contracts that block Nyquist down were done at summer 2012, not this summer. It looks easy to blaim Cleary-contract, because that happened the latest and looked unnecessary on that moment. But Cleary is better player than the worst dead weight in our team. That makes us better, and Dany-boy with that 1.75M isn't the worst deal possible if you think it in big picture.
I'm just trying to say, people who are bashing Cleary all the time are barking the wrong tree. The main scapegoat should be Sammy and his refusal for the buyout.