why do the Yankees 'buy' players, when the Red Sox 'acquire talent'? Manny came to the Sox with a monsterous contract, and Ortiz and Beckett just signed huge extensions. Where those examples of them 'buying' a team, or what? The Sox salary total is quite high, too.
Because more than any other team, the Yanks are not adverse to taking on salary, esp. at the trading deadline. Take the Abreu deal, for example---they didn't balk at taking on his salary in order to make a run at it this year.
Your overall point is quite correct, however. The Sox have a $125 million dollar payroll; for that kind of investment, they shouldn't roll over and play dead.
Abreau's real cost to the Yankees is $27 million dollars over the 1.33 seasons he will play for that team. (salary and luxury taxes) The Yanks gave up low level prospects. To me that's buying players at a level that goes well beyond the salary dump that takes place in baseball every year
Ortiz was a waiver pick up and Bucket Head was acquired via a trade. Both were given extensions.
The Sox have the second highest payroll and it is still 60% of the Yankees.