Its neither desperation, nor backtracking. Neither Ramirez nor Sandoval were available last winter. The "philosophy" that everyone seems to think that the Sox "abandoned" never existed, except in the minds of people that demand that a team have a "philosophy" or "plan" which can be boiled to some sort of three sentence mantra.
They haven't "devalued" anything. It doesn't matter what the Red Sox think of their prospects. The Sox may think JBJ is the next Garry Maddox, but if a trading partner doesn't, then too bad. Conversely, the Sox might think internally that JBJ is the next Dwayne Hosey, but if a trading partner sees Maddox, then its off to the trade room. Some team can think that Will Middlebrooks can be a low OBP plus SLG% 3Bman even if the Sox think the ship has sailed. Teams trade guys all the time who they think suck, who turn out not to suck, but its not like they walk into the room and say "its official, Middlebrooks blows, first bag of balls gets him."