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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Sadness and disappointment begin my feelings. This "may" benefit the Sox, but only if they make the playoffs. Lets hope for ATLEAST that. Otherwise the trade is a travesty for a Boston Icon and the fans that love him!!

Mike B, Quincy

They may not be better off this season unless these guy's come right in and make an impact. Our defense should be better with Mientkiewicz at first. Cabrera is an underated shortstop who should be more comfortable playing in Fenway and the outfielder Roberts gives the Sox something they have very little of, speed. But at the end of the year, regardless of the outcome, Nomar was headed elsewhere and to get nothing in return would be a waste.

Bob, Watertown

Yes, this is absolutely a trade that had to be made by the Red Sox. Nomar can say what he wants now, but he was unhappy, feelings were hurt over the winter with the Sox' attempt to acquire A Rod, and quite simply he had become a cancer in the clubhouse. Do we need to re-visit his mood in the dugout in NY or notice that he has been distant from his teammates this year. We acquired 2 gold glove players which improves the defense dramatically. No one likes to give anything away in an attempt to win, but we had to, and I commend the Sox brass for pulling the trigger. Good move.

Lee, Newton

I believe so, a error prone past his peak, sulking shortstop, for whoever is a good deal. let nomar, make those timely errrors for the cubs. works out great, cubs dont make the playoffs, and neither do the sox. BRING ON THE PATS!

david, Uxbridge

Yes. Nomar was out of Boston after this season anyway. We get a first class shortstop and firstbaseman that complement our team nicely. I think it was a solid trade for all teams involved. Good work Theo.

Thaddeus, Austin/TX

Good job by Theo. We got a good SS and a great 1B for an injured player that was only going to be around for about two months. The Sox and Cubs are better off while the Expos and Dodgers are the big losers.

Eamonn, Bridgton, ME

This trade is strinkingly similar to that of the Antwoine Walker deal. I think that it does make the Sox defense better and only time will tell if this is a good trade for Boston. I think the fact that Nomar was not going to resign here makes this trade a bit sweeter. The Sox made themselves better defensively and made themselves much quicker on the bases. More like Last years Marlins and less like the same old Sox. Only time will tell. But one thing is for sure, this is a big shake up and drastically changes this team.

Ryan, Avon

The fool should have taken the $60 million that the REDSOX offered along time ago and all of this would have never happened. The Redsox did the right thing, atleast acquiring some talent for Nomar, instead of letting him walk. It would have been nice to get somemore pitching though. THEO does it again! WOO HOO! Lets go get the Evil Empire!

D. A. Martin, Plattsburgh, New York

Tough to tell. With the way Boston sportswriters treated Nomar, or any Red Sox star who goes through a bad patch, it's tough to get a good idea of how they really feel here. About the only way this trade is a good thing is if Nomar really was unhappy in Boston and had no intentions of re-signing with the Sox after '04. The Sox simply DON'T need another first baseman (unless they plan to move Millar and sign Douggie M. to a long term deal). Mientkiewicz's glove will not solve the Sox's defensive problems and acquiring him seems like putting a bandage on your elbow when you scraped your knee. The spate of bad defense has been a number of good defensive players going through bad stretches; all you can do is ride them out. If the Sox needed any help anywhere, acquiring a proven top-3 starter or a Torii Hunter-caliber outfielder would have made this deal make sense. Right now they just loaded up on the infield, the one place where the Sox (recent bad play notwithstanding) don't have holes.

Bryan, Boston

It's sad to see the day that Nomar is no longer playing for the Redsox - he's done so well for them over the years and is loved by the fans. The reality, however, is that Boston will not have sufficient funds to resign all of its players at the end of this season. This was a business decision where pragmatism won out over passion and loyalty.

David, Decatur GA