Boston vs. NYY Payroll?

I know many, including some of the media, are tagging Boston as the new NY. However, is it possible that the Red Sox organization had no real alternative but to spend a ton of money in order to compete even in their own division? If you are a team that cannot bloat your payroll and you are in the division with the NYY how do you even give the appearance of being on the same playing field? If the Indians, Tigers and White Sox were in a division where one could spend endless wealth signing whomever they wanted, what would happen? I am asking about this because people are saying Boston has a payroll of $143 mil but did they have a choice? They had the ability and the dough so why not? Weren't they kind of forced into this?