Based on current rumors, this could become known as an "Evolutionary Year" for the Sox. A year the Gorilla evolved into talent and the Beckett / Lowell trade is reversed.
1) Lester rumors indicate a return to Boston - assume done in Boston's favor
2) Sanchez on the block rumors from Detroit, trade Cespedes, Mujica and Cecchini for Sanchez
3) Sign Miller
4) Sign a 2nd catcher, or just use Butler until Swihart is ready
5) San Diego rumor for Tyson Ross - Renaudo, WMB and Coyle for Ross
Lester, Sanchez, Ross Buchholz and Kelly - 53M
Victorino RF, Pedroia 2B, Ortiz DH, Ramirez LF, Sandoval 3B, Napoli 1B, Castillo CF, Bogaerts, Vazquez, Betts, Holt, Weeks, 2nd Catcher - 109M
Uehara, Miller, Tazawa, Badenhop RDLR, Workman, Layne, Wilson - 22M
That could be had for $184M
Victorino, Napoli, 2nd Catcher and likely Buchholz, move on after the season and are replaced by Swihart, JBJ, Brentz and one of the lefties and the cost falls below $150M for 2016, fulfilling the desire to only surpass the line for a single year.. Makes as much sense as anything else this offseason.