I don't think there are any teams, other than the mid-00 NYY, that try to get good by building through high ticket free agency. Not the current Phils, not Theo-era Red Sox, not any of the consistently good teams of the past decade. Both of those teams used high-cost FA to fill in holes around a core acquired through trade, draft, international signings, and "dumpster dives" that turned into Werth and Ortiz. Of those Red Sox teams, the only major position FAs were Manny, Damon/Drew (not together at any time), the SS mess, and one rotation spot, if you call Dice K an FA. For the Phils, there is the current Lee (but not his previous incarnation acquired by trade), Ibanez, and Lidge.