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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while I hope it helps this year, defense the obvious achilles heel. I think it helps next in able to sign guys. For too long, the Sox try to win "this year", instead of the entire roster being purged at the end of the year, they"ll probably be able to sign Varitek and Pedro or Lowe. Nomar, also spat on Red Sox Nation during the epic game against the Yankees. Dave Roberts, good pick up. Would like to see a lefthanded reliever come aboard also.

johnny, nyc,ny

It is a very good deal, if only because it gets rid of a guy who long ago lost his value. It is also a good deal if the Sox actually use the talents of the guys whom they got; Cabrera is a fast, skilled short-stop, and the player from Minnesota is also pretty good. Too bad they could not get a pitcher, but now they can actually start running, and playing real baseball--assuming Francona puts on his LaRussa hat--instead of the Fenway softball they have been inflicting upon us for so long.

steve, st. paul, mn

Been a Sox's fan for over 65 years(never seen a winner in Boston just like my father and grandfather did,nt and they are both dead) and have seen a lot of deals. This was probably a good deal for the sox's getting two quality infielders, both with under 250 batting averages. But Nomar had become a cancer in Boston and I don't think he really wanted to stay. Is Boston better now only time will tell, felt they should have got a high quality pither which would have been better for them.

Tincup, St Albans, Vt

Nomar totally FAILED when it counted... in the playoffs last year. Some players are clutch, and some pile up their own self-serving stats when it really doesn't matter or count. Nomar is NOT clutch. He could not do anything, when it really counted!! In that sense, Nomar and the Cubs are a good match!!

Robert, Lexington, Ma

henry & theo screw up once again!! you better trade for prospects and start all over again instead of buying players in search for a championship. the war against the yankees will never be won by outpaying underachiever players. the red sox nation will ever be seen as a bunch of wannabe's if they keep that silly strategy of beating ny no matter what. that's why people love underdogs like the marlins, angels, and now rangers.

jose , lowell

Great trade. The only time Nomar produces is when the Sox are already up. Put the game on his shoulders and he crumbles like Payton Manning.

Jeff, Atlanta

Yes. Nomar had his chance. While it is sad to see him go and while he is a great ball player, what do you expect the Sox to do? He has signaled more than once that he does not intend on staying. Would you dopes rather see him walk for nothing? If he stayed, would be beat the Yankees? Hello - get a clue Red Sox nation...

Bill, Andover

Great deal, and a brave one by Theo. He had to know he'd get slammed for it, but he pulled the trigger and did great. Here's what this does: 1. Gives the Sox two of the best defensive infielders in the game. Mientkiewicz will alone save the rest of the infield a couple dozen errors this season. To say you'd start Mr. Cement-legs Millar over him is crazy. 2. Cabrera is having an off year, not surprising given how much of a basket case the Expos are. God that's got to be depressing. But by the end of last year he was one of the real rising starts in MLB. This guy's a HUGE talent, both offensively and defensively. Nomar's been mailing it in defensively, face it. 3. The defensive improvement makes Derek Lowe a better pitcher. Probably lowers his ERA by half a run. 4. Dave Roberts is one of the fastest guys in the game. Good outfielder, too. Put him out in RF against righties until Trot comes back, and you've got a seriously dangerous couple speed demons at the top of the order. Great, fundamental deal. Nomar's sulking was a cancer, and he was gone anyway after the season. Go Sox!

Andy S, Rutland, VT

What is ti about this team that prevents us from keeping players like Nomar? Given that he wasn't coming back I guess this is as good as we could hope for.

Pat, Ottawa, Canada

This is another example of the Red Sox organization not understanding how to treat its players. Clemens, Boggs, Mo, and now Nomar. What happened in December is what caused this awful deal today. I wish Nomar all the best and I really hope Theo knows what he is doing but I am afraid in this instance he doesn't. We just cut back on Millar's at bats, we didn't get one of Chicago's top starting pitchers and we still have the whack job Derek Lowe. Not a good day in Red Sox Nation. I look forward to watching Nomar play for it all in October and I hope he wins it. We will miss you Nomar.

John, Newton