>so Baldridge didn't retire, and Gray isn't his replacement, and we do have a bloated BOD.<
Why did you think Baldridge had retired?
>Leaves open the likely possibility that Gray was added as part of terms for the ongoing partnership talks.<
I think this is extremely unlikely. I can’t recall a case where a director of any company was named to the Board as part of a partnership deal where the appointment preceded the partnership announcement. Regards, Dew