If you add the Pablito and HRam deals together, nobody can claim JH tied Ben's hands, that winter.
The next winter saw the Price signing (under DD.)
What Ben failed to do, beyond making good on one big signing, was pull the trigger on a major prospect trade.
BTW, two of Ben's major additions, HRam and Porcello both did way better in DD's first year than Ben's last year. Flip those two seasons, and maybe Ben gets another season as GM.