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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Somebody said that sox pitchers are gonna be happy for better D, but i think that AL pitchers are pretty giddy as well.

Popsy, New Brunswick

Nomar was awful.....I love Orlando Go Socks

Ruthie, Providence, RI

I need to respond to all these myopic fans writing here that think this deal sucks. What are you saying, just let him walk in October with nothing in return? Watch him go sign with Anaheim, which he will most likely still do? Open your eyes people. Sheesh. Nomar was great in Boston but the days were numbered. Theo and the Sox brass knew this. Oh and those who said they are switching to Yanks. Here you go- http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/nyy/ticketing/nyy_ticketing_info.jsp. And good riddens to you. Sox don't need fair weather fans.

gregory, carmel, ca

The sox have had trouble scoring runs all year. Watch them now. The average RPG will be around 2-3. Nomar had the second best average in the league over the lat 30 days and his bat will be missed. The SOX will miss the post season

George, Fairfax/VA

Thank God the Patriots are back...this is aaaa horrible trade, one that will haunt them for some time...they didn't even get pitching...it's hard to be a red sox fan right now...

peter, Phoenix

It's a sad day for this sox fan. Nomar has always been my favorite since his arrival in 96. But, you have to wait and see how these things turn out. Baseball is a business and the owners and the ballplayers always make the fans remember that. To the traditional baseball fan, be careful whom you root for. He most likely will not stay with your team his entire career.

Jay, Watham

i would like to thank the boston red sox fans who have supported me throughout my career. it was nice playing in front of you. I'm very sorry if I will be the one to beat you in the world series.

nomar, wrigley

As a twenty-three year old, and therefore a Red Sox fan of about eighteen years, Nomar has been far and away my favorite Sox player that has played most or all of his career in front of me. Throughout his career, I have dreaded the day that would bring the news of his departure to another team; although at times I had so much faith in the man that I truly believed that that day would never come. Unfortunately, it has, and I'm sad. And the Sox are not better off without him in any way, shape or form. In fact, even if the A-Rod trade went through last winter, I still don't think the Sox would have been better off without him; Nomar is the definition of a "player you want to have on your team." And while I'm on the A-Rod trade topic, I feel like I should stress that the way that the Sox treated Nomar during the whole deal was positively disgusting and heartless. However, to be perfectly honest, I have to say that I now think that Nomar is a bit shallower in a financial sense than I had once thought. Turning down $15m for 4 years was greedy, and the near-fact that this off-season he will settle with some non-contender who wants to pay him way more than he is worth (see the Baltimore Orioles and Miguel Tejada), makes me glad that the Red Sox will not be involved in the over-bidding. (And ultimately losing in it, whether they actually came out on top of the sweepstakes or not.) I wish Nomar the best of luck with the Chicago Cubs for the rest of this year, and if he signs a reasonable contract next year ($10-12m per year?), then I wish him the best of luck with whatever lucky team wins his services. However, if he decides to play the show-me-the-money game, then count on me trading in my "good lucks" for "Nomar s*cks," and I won't feel a bit like a hypocrite for doing so. Until then though, I guess I'll try to forget about the fact that Nomar is no longer on our team, and root on Cabrera & Minky as they try to make the most out of their positions in the 2004 Red Sox puzzle. And if the Sox end up getting fitted for rings sometime this winter, I hope they tailor a special one for Nomar that reads "1996-2003 Franchise Player", for they wouldn't have gotten wherever they end up going without him.

Steve, Brighton

Boston Got the Better Deal and Here's Why...1) NOMAR, while popular and rightfully so, has not be a contributor to helping the team. Boston was going to lose him next year anyway Why should he stay? 2) Boston get's a Solid 1B and SS...And, You get to keep them for a while. As a Yankees fan, I'll be honest, Your Management just plain sucks. The Boston Mgt. has been sticking you guys for years thinking "only" money will win, well we know thats not true..Look at the Yanks in 2001 & 2003. The point is Boston has money, what they need is good base ball people to support you guys..When I think back to names like Cecil Cooper, Bagwell and then to have the balls to put manny on waviers tells me they are taking your money and going off sailing in th eoff season, At least George puts it bback in his product

Mike Z, Rochester, NY

Yes absolutely. I love Nomar. However everyone needs to get a grip. In November when he signed with someone else anyway everyone would be saying..I can't believe Theo didn't get anything for him. Loyalty? Well he could have shown that by signing for the 60 million when offered or took it like a man when they were trying to get the best player in the game..instead he sulked and sat out the biggest game of the year. As for the players we received..obviously everyone calling Cabrera a mediocre player doesn't know the game..he has been playing in Montreal people. He is widely regarded as one of the top 5 shortstops in the game. How many games can we afford to lose with that awful defense and no speed. It would have been great to get some pitching granted, but under the circumstances the best deal was made and maybe clubhouse chemistry (which really wins championships) can be restored. And ha ha no Randy for the Empire.

jk, randolph