The terrified screams could be heard as soon as the Chris Sale trade was announced: The Red Sox had given up on the future and completely sold out for a chance to build a superteam in 2017.

Here’s a question for the screamers, or those who nodded their head in agreement when they heard them: Which year, exactly, will the Red Sox no longer be competitive?

Every core player except David Price is contractually obligated to the team for at least three more years. By then a depleted farm system, one that still includes three strong pieces, could be fruitful again if the Red Sox don’t completely abandon their scouting and development.

Great starting pitching is the hardest thing in baseball to find and they just got more of it, cheap, in exchange for four players who have 20 combined major league plate appearances and 12 strikeouts.

Maybe in four years, if everything goes wrong, if the Red Sox suddenly morph into an inept organization incapable of making quality decisions, core players suffer career-threatening injuries and unexpected turmoil inside the organization spreads like a disease that leads to failures on the field and in the front office, maybe, just maybe, this team would truly suck in 2020.

But until then? The Red Sox have one heck of a three-year window to capitalize on. And the years after that may not be too bleak, either. Here’s why:

Their own ‘Core Four’

Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte, Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera represented the “Core Four” that led the New York Yankees to more than a decade of prosperity that even a nonexistent farm system took years to interfere with.

With the Sox, Dustin Pedroia has five more years under contract. Jackie Bradley Jr. and Mookie Betts are guaranteed for four more. Xander Bogaerts is in town for at least three.

The Red Sox have their own Core Four, all homegrown just like the Yankees group. If none of them are signed to contract extensions, the Sox still have a three-year window.

But knowing Dave “Go For it” Dombrowski, expect otherwise.

Were it not for the Core Four, Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval could be the two dark clouds about to bring a storm on the Red Sox’ financial flexibility.

But when Bogaerts is due for an extension in three years, Ramirez and his $22 million salary will be off the books. When Betts and Bradley are up in four years, Sandoval and his $18 million salary in 2018 and 2019 (with a $17 million option for 2020) will be off the books.

With $40 million to work with right there, the Sox should be more equipped to handle the high prices of their young stars.

A more careful personnel boss might be hesitant in negotiations with Scott Boras, the agent for Bradley and Bogaerts. But Dombrowski has never shied away from locking up players who he thinks are worthy.

As GM of the Tigers, Dombrowski inked Miguel Cabrera to an eight-year, $240 million deal, Justin Verlander to a five-year, $140 million deal, Prince Fielder to a nine-year, $214 million deal (Fielder was later traded for Ian Kinsler, who has been exceptional in Detroit) and Victor Martinez to a four-year, $68 million deal.

A lot can happen by 2020. Maybe the Red Sox will have a new shortstop or center fielder they can feel comfortable transitioning to. But if the Core Four are worth keeping together, Dombrowski is the person to do it.

Wisdom in right places

Typically when teams are in go-for-it mode, the roster age reflects that. But the Red Sox remain a young team, with some experience on the pitching staff.

The peak age has long been considered 27 for position players and 31 for pitchers. That number might dip, if it hasn’t already, with all the young talent in baseball. But the Red Sox have most of their key players on the right side of the peak.

Closer Craig Kimbrel, signed for at least two more years, is 28. Rick Porcello and Chris Sale, each signed for three more years, will both be 28 when the season starts and 30 when it’s time to think about negotiating an extension. Price, 31, is the old man of the group.

In addition, Eduardo Rodriguez and Carson Smith have yet to reach salary arbitration.

Next wave of youth

Red Sox historians might one day look back at Dombrowski’s refusal to trade Andrew Benintendi as his best decision of 2016.

The 22-year-old can hit, field and run the bases, all while the folks in the marketing department must be thinking up ways to promote his hair. Just imagine a picture of his fresh moss of a hairdo next to an ad that reads, “Head & Shoulders: The official shampoo of the Boston Red Sox.”

Has Benintendi mastered the art of dealing with the media? Not yet. Some who covered him while he attended the University of Arkansas said he was given special treatment and kept himself mostly inaccessible. But even if he has Jacoby Ellsbury’s tendency to avoid the media, he’s earned high praise from coaches and teammates for the way he handles himself in the locker room. He looks to be the next big star.

Amazingly, Blake Swihart, 24, is still around, so maybe the Sox really are serious about bringing him to camp as a catcher. Some might wonder why they don’t have him bring his infielder’s glove. The switch-hitter can handle the bat and hitting coach Chili Davis believes he’ll be a .300 hitter, meaning if he’s on the roster, he’ll need to get in the lineup somehow. He converted to left field last year, but also spent a lot of time at third base and shortstop in high school. The Sox need someone to push Sandoval at third base and currently his only challenger is Brock Holt, who has been invaluable as the team’s utility man.

The Sox hope Swihart will earn his stripes behind the plate, but Sandy Leon and Christian Vazquez have the leg up there.

All three catchers are under contract for at least three more years.

Meanwhile, on the farm

Manager John Farrell wasn’t certain, but Rafael Devers might have been the first player with braces he ever managed.

The 19-year-old third baseman made an appearance in big league camp in 2016 spring training and impressed with quick bat speed and a strong throwing arm at third base. Three-and-a-half years younger than the average player in the Carolina League, he hit .282 with a .779 OPS in High-A last season. And he’s a big reason why the Sox felt comfortable trading Yoan Moncada.

Those throughout the industry still have questions about Jason Groome, the uber-talented left-hander who, due to character concerns, fell to the Red Sox at No. 12 in June’s draft. But the ceiling is sky-high for him.

Sam Travis, who may not be ready to play until midseason following an ACL tear, remains in high regard as a gap-to-gap hitter who can play first base.

While the Sox certainly have cashed out on a lot prospects since Dombrowski arrived, they still have a few players who will attract scouts at minor league games.

All evidence indicates this is an organization that did not mortgage its future this offseason, but instead planned for a three-year window to become one of the best teams in the majors, with enough reason to hope for more success after that.