Hmm. I am still not convinced that the situation is dire.
"Nobody pretends to know for sure" - this is simply not true and you know it.
The game of team building has had some rule changes. Changes that effect all MLB teams, not just the Sox.
With good management and strategy I see no reason why the Sox can not continue to compete.
And it is not like the abundance of Sox prospects that graduated and others who were used in deals have yielded an abundance of championships. In other words, being a rich team does not guarantee a f***ing thing.
My primary question remains unanswered.