There's also Morneau and K Morales as possible trade targets.

I would not sign Swisher for 3/11, and not becuase I do not think he is worth that amount of salary.  I would not want to give up the draft pick. 

I know for the Sox that would only be a second round pick, but a second round pick for the Sox might be only the 40th or so pick in the draft overall.  The actual number is TBD.  The new rules make a second round pick much more valuabe than in the past. 

Last season there were 29 compensation picks between round 1 and round 2.  If I understand the new rules correctly, this season there will be a maximum of 8.  In addition to that, if all 8 of the free agents who were offered qualifying deals are signed by other teams, there will be up to 8 fewer picks in the first round (since signing teams have to give up a 1st round draft pick unless they are in the top 10 slots), meaning that the second round could start with the 32nd player selected overall.  Beyond that, I am unclear as to how it goes since I do not know how the "Competitive Balance Lottery round" goes.  But however that works, it seems reasonable to conjecture that the Sox would be picking somewhere near the 40th overall player with that second pick.  So signing Swisher or LaRoche means paying their salary and giving up the 40th (or so) best player available in the first-year player draft.

This makes me think that Napoli is a better target.  But that also begs this question:  Who will have a better year at the plate, Napoli or Youkilis?  Youkilis is the much better glove.  And Youk, even with his reduced production, has good OBP skills like Napoli, and good RH power, as Napoli has.  All other things being equal, contract-wise, would Youk provide more value for the money, or Napoli?  I kind of think it will be Youk.

In response to parhunter55's comment:

There's also Morneau and K Morales as possible trade targets.

In response to moonslav59's comment:

I would not sign Swisher for 3/11, and not becuase I do not think he is worth that amount of salary.  I would not want to give up the draft pick. 

I know for the Sox that would only be a second round pick, but a second round pick for the Sox might be only the 40th or so pick in the draft overall.  The actual number is TBD.  The new rules make a second round pick much more valuabe than in the past. 

Last season there were 29 compensation picks between round 1 and round 2.  If I understand the new rules correctly, this season there will be a maximum of 8.  In addition to that, if all 8 of the free agents who were offered qualifying deals are signed by other teams, there will be up to 8 fewer picks in the first round (since signing teams have to give up a 1st round draft pick unless they are in the top 10 slots), meaning that the second round could start with the 32nd player selected overall.  Beyond that, I am unclear as to how it goes since I do not know how the "Competitive Balance Lottery round" goes.  But however that works, it seems reasonable to conjecture that the Sox would be picking somewhere near the 40th overall player with that second pick.  So signing Swisher or LaRoche means paying their salary and giving up the 40th (or so) best player available in the first-year player draft.

This makes me think that Napoli is a better target.  But that also begs this question:  Who will have a better year at the plate, Napoli or Youkilis?  Youkilis is the much better glove.  And Youk, even with his reduced production, has good OBP skills like Napoli, and good RH power, as Napoli has.  All other things being equal, contract-wise, would Youk provide more value for the money, or Napoli?  I kind of think it will be Youk.