Larry Lucchino has defended the Red Sox and their dealings this offseason in response to a report that discussed the club's perceived frugality this winter. Lucchino is the Red Sox's president and chief executive officer. "We're going to have the second-highest payroll in baseball this year," Lucchino said. "The Yankees are from a different planet than most of the rest of us, because they're in the largest market in the Western world. But it's hard to understand that assertion given the level of commitment the club has made not to just to the Major League payroll, but to amateur signing bonuses, to international signings, anything related to the on-field product. "I think this 2012 budget will be the highest budget in Red Sox history. It's been pretty high the last few years."