Here’s the problem. The guys that aren’t in the downswing of their career and/or don’t cost a draft pick are like super sought after and cost a s%*# ton of $$$ (Soto, Ohtani, etc). Realistically, the Sox are never going to sign a top 2/3 free agent in any class so we’re left trying to find relative value from the top 10 guys outside of the top few that they can’t afford (or choose not to). Guys like Alonso, Kim, and Santander fit this billing. Yes, you’re going to lose picks. Yes, they’re probably going to spend majority of the contract on the wrong side of 30 but that’s what makes them affordable to a bottom tier franchise like the Sox.
In other words, beggars can’t be choosers.