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?

Page 27

i dont think the sox made a good deal because they lost one of there team leaders even he was injured for most of the year. and they didnt help themselves in there pitching game

Aaron, hebron, maine

Who knows? Theo might have pulled a diamond in the rought type trade. On the surface, you hate to see Nomar go for a pair of .246 hitters, but both these guys have hit in the past. Doug M @ over .300 twice (a needed left handed bat that keeps Daubs in AAA - thank you) and Orlando Carbrera is a free swinger who was an understudy to Vlad for a while and has some pop in his bat. And the Sox have now gone from having one of the worst defenses to a pretty solid defense once Trot and Pokey are back. The pitching might really win out in this trade and with not many arms available Theo may be pursuing the next best option as pitching and team defense win baseball not a single hitter who can't wait to get out of town anyway.

Ortiz, Oakland, CA

A couple of 250. hitters. Is Mient. a big upgrade over McCarthy and if he plays, where do you put Millar? Is Cabrera an upgrade over Pokey or Gonzales? Pitching was the most vital need--should have held out for Clement!

John , Visalia, Ca.

Epstein is a moron.

Cubbybear, Hartford, CT

The Red Sox got NOTHING in return for a great all-time Red Sox player. I'm sick to my stomach. This one hurts much more than Freddie Lynn, Carlton Fisk, Wade Boggs or Roger Clemens. Nomar was the heart of the Sox. Sox fans and the press gave Nomar the bum steer ever since his contract negotiations soured last year. Kudos to the Cubs. This is not a trade it is a classic salary dump and a vain attempt to appease Red Sox nation with a sorry attempt at promoting the improved defense angle. BAD DEAL!

J. McDonald, Saybrook, TX

I really think that if it's defense we are looking for then we made the right decision. Although Cabrera is a free agent at the end of the year, there is probably a better chance of signing him than Nomar. Sure wish we could have made a deal for The Unit. Jeff

Jeff , Groton

This is a great trade. Nomar is not a team player. Let him sit on the bench in the 11th inning of a Cubs game. He is out for himself. He was not coming back. At least we got some defense for him now. Bye, bye Nomar. Play for yourself in Chicago!!!!!!!

Larry G., Palm City, FL

I can't believe everyone is getting so teary-eyed over the loss of a guy who obviously didn't want to be here, preferred sunnier climes, turned down a massive $60 million contract, was leaving at the end of this year anyway, recently sat out the biggest game of the season (when Jeter outclassed him by jumping into the stands for that ball). Theo's right - they CAN'T win it all with this lousy defense. Now we have a shot. Simple as that. Get over it.

Brian, New Jersey

Red Sox Management has a history of trading world class players who haunt us down the road. The Cubs will probably now make the playoffs while the Red Sox sit at home. I am totally discouraged and feel that the off season situation was handled poorly by the Red Sox . The team chemistry has not been the same this year as a result. I would like to see a World series in Boston and more than one in my lifetime.

Cal , Upton

I personally do not like the trade. I can understand getting another shortstop seeing as Nomar and Pokey are hurt. But to get another first baseman with good defense but poor offense is pointless. They have Macarty and Daubach for good defense at first.

Michael , Abington