The Sox have shipped Nomar to the Cubs in a four-team deal and ended up with shortshop Orlando Cabrera and first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz. Are the Sox better off?

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Nomar will be missed, but the defense has been horrible. Derek Lowe probably just picked up an extra few wins this season. Mienkewticz (sp) and Cabrera are good pickups, especially considering that Nomar was gone at the end of the year.

Steve, Gainesville, FL (originally Milford, MA)

No, it's not. We just traded a potent offensive weapon for 2 guys who don't hit above .250. It's pitching that wins championships and we did nothing (so far) to improve in that area. The Sox will miss Nomar's bat more than they think. Once Reece comes back, we'll have one of the weakest hitting infields in baseball.

Brian , Holbrook

This is right up there with the Babe Ruth debacle. Nomar always hustled and gave it his best. Thanks for the memories. Not only did the Sox get rid of a HOFer but maybe their best hitting prospect for an underachieving $6 million shortstop and a first baseman who wouldn't even be an upgrade over Brian Daubach. Ted Williams said that Nomar could hit .400 some day but that was before the wrist injury. Nomar was being touted as MVP last Sept. before Weaver plunked him on his bad hand with a pitch. I think management has blamed Nomar for not leading the Sox to the World Series last year. Then during the off season, Nomar found out via TV that he was being traded to the WhiteSox. They didn't even have the guts to tell him ahead of time. Now the Sox arent getting Maglio or Clement but a couple of Bill James specials who might just keep the Sox out of the playoffs. If Theo wanted to shake things up, he should have fired Francoma. They seem to have gone to a small ball philosophy while keeping a large ball manager........

George, Schenectady

This is disgusting. I am so annoyed. when I read the news I took my red sox tee off instantly. I am appauled at how they have treated Nomar. I am lost for words......Judas is all I can think of saying. My plans to take a game in when I visit Boston next are out cancelled. I just lost a lot of respect for the Red Sox management. Also bye bye Post season play in my view.

Phil, N. Ireland

Theo and the Trio let their personal feelings get in the way of their baseball judgment. It seems they thought Nomar was too open in flaunting his contempt for them. We get a 1B who's not a good enough offensive player to play, another Poke Reese in Cabrera and a fourth OF. I never thought I'd feel so nostalgic for the DanDuquette days.

Allan , 42 Roberts Ave.

Nomar for two guys that hit under .250? Oh yeah that's a great deal. What the hell was Theo smoking when he thought up that deal?

Jon, Cincinnati

It's a good trade. The chances of Nomar leaving at the end of the year were, to say the least, high. One only has to look back at what we received for Carlton Fisk, Fred Lynn, Rick Burleson, Roger Cemens, Mo Vaughn, I could go on, to see that getting something for him now, as opposed to nothing at the end of the year, simply makes sense. Hopefully, the Sox have finally learned from past mistakes that getting something, anything, is better that nothing. I was however, under the impression that we already had a first baseman with a great glove and a so-so bat in David McCarty. And I'm not so sure his bat can be called weak.

Tom , Carver

I think this Bill James statistical crap is being taken too far. Emotion, sincerity, and leadership (qualities possessed by Nomar) are more important at times than certain numerical equations postulated as the solution to the World Series equation.

Patrick U., Chestnut Hill

In terms of talent, the Red Sox came out on the losing end of the stick on the Nomar trade. If it's the best they could get for a guy who was miserable and leaving anyways, then I guess they did OK.

RG, Newton

Nomar was a huge part of who the Sox were. It won't be the same without him. I don't think I'll watch as many games.

Dan, Newburyport