He started things. That needed starting. Full stop.
He drafted quite a few MLB-quality prospects, and made some minor trades for same, and signed a couple internationals, same. Full stop.
He hired Ryan Garko and AJ Hinch. Full stop.
I don't see how you can give him a ZERO and not stoop to the barest of bottoms to say yeah, OK, he did that.
That does NOT NEGATE the rest of your post.