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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Good trade. We were going to lose him anyway. With Cabrera you get someone with some speed and defense. Put Pokey (once he's healthy) at second, and the team is sound defensively - Mueller at 3rd and in the late innings, Mankiewitcz at first. We'll miss the offense that Nomar provided without question. Cabrera's numbers at short aren't that bad though. I like the trade.

Mo , Nashua, NH

I fear that losing Nomar is similar to losing the Bambino. It has left a big hole in my desire to watch the Sox play, with no hope of his returning to the field as a Red Sox player. I think they would be better off to lose Francona!

Tim , Colchester, VT

Good trade for the Sox......There's enough offense built into the lineup to afford the much needed defensive upgrade we got in return for Nomar.

mike , omaha, nebraska

If the Sox really wanted to improve their defense all they had to do was bench Belhorn

Jim , Augusta, NJ

I'm very disappointed. I think Nomar was on his way out of his funk. We get a Gold Glove Fielder, but he has NO power. I hope we know what we are doing.

Patrick, Fort Plain

A dark day in Boston...wowzers!

Doon, Geneva, NY

Nomar wasn't coming back, and the defense was atrocious. The bad defense gave away more runs (and made Schilling and Lowe worse) than the offense could get. It's a good move. Cabrerra has been very good until the constant shuffling in Montreal/Puerto Rico got too annoying. I think it makes the team better.

Jeff, Phoenix, AZ

I'm reading all these comments on what a travesty it was to trade Nomah. He was an example of what Red Sox baseball is all about. Yadda yadda. What's that? Losin'? The guy was hurt by the Rodriguez debacle. Rightfully so. He wasn't going to stay past September. As one person put it, every fly ball is an adventure when it comes to the Red Sox gloves-of-stone defense. The Sox still have enough bats to get the job done and now maybe they have the gold gloves in the infield as well.

Matt L, Sturbridge, MA

What are the Red Sox thinking?!? Trade one of their franchise players? Someone needs to see if the GM really knows what he is doing.

Bill , Austin, TX

I think this trade is awful. As much as I respected Nomar, I did think he needed to leave. He was gonna walk next year anyway. But in any case, this trade is awful! I think I'm a bigger fan of the Suppan and Sauerbeck trades of last year...

Lindsay, Leominster, MA