Exactly. They very well may have signed Soto, if it was at their price, even if it may have been double price's deal, so in that sense, they may not be lying, when they say they are prepared to spend big.
If they never set a price at or above market value, however, they will never sign anyone. The did with Beuhler, Chapman and Wilson, as they seem to really like the lower risk, one year deals.
I'm sure almost every team that has signed a large & long deal, knows or feels like they paid more than they felt the guy was worth, but the realized the need was so great, it was worth it. We do not get to that point, anymore, on anything longer than 2 years. Yoshida and Story are the only FAs signed to 3+ years in a long time.