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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Maybe the Sox upgraded their defense and maybe they would have lost him to free agency had they not swapped him. But no more Nomah in Boston?! That's gonna take some getting used to. I hope he tears it up in Chicago.

Vinod Kumar, Bartlett

Wake up Red Sox fans. NOMAR GARCIAPPARA for Cabrera and Mientkiewic??? Are you kidding me? Yeah, those are the two players that will push the Sox over the top to a championship! Get a clue.

JD, Tampa

I think this was a great trade. The attitude in Boston for too long as been that a season is a success if the team makes the playoffs. I'm sick and tired of getting excited about the playoffs when this team hasn't won a world series since 1918, or even gotten to one in almost 20 years. Theo was right -- This team was not going to WIN A WORLD SERIES with that defense. If you can't win it all, then who cares? The playoffs shouldn't cut it. As memorable as last season was, when it comes down to it, they didn't do any better than the Tigers.

Tom Avila, Andover

This deal STINKS. They shouldn't have traded Nomar for anything less than Randy Johnson, and should have just kept him since that wasn't going to happen.

Mike, Boxford

I grew up in Phoenix, Arizona and I am a life long Suns fan. I suffered deep emotional wounds when Jerry Colangelo traded Dennis Johnson for Rick Robey. As many of you remember, Johnson went on to play an instrumental role in the Celtics championships in the 80s. I have since grown up and moved to Chicago. I am now a die hard Cubs fan. The Nomar for Gonzalaz trade is the baseball equivelent of Johnson for Robey. Time will prove that Nomar is the last piece in the Cub's championship team, even if they don't make the playoffs this year. Boston, thank you very much for giving us one of the best short stops in the game for nothing. I predict it will be very painful for Bostonians to watch the Cubs go on to win 2 or 3 championships in the next few years. The curse of the goat will be placed to bed on only the curse of the Babe will remain. Let the healing begin!!!!

Gar Heard , Chicago

"Definitely, we get better. Our infield defense improves. We now have depth at first (Millar/Mientkiewicz), at second (Pokey/Bellhorn), short (Cabrera/Pokey) and outfield (Millar/Kapler/Nixon, etc.)." With comments like that it makes me reconsider the intelligence of Red Sox Nation. Look at the names!! Other than Trot I'd get rid of them all and have Nomar as my SS..

JD, Tampa

Will I miss Nomar? Of course. Was this move necessary? Of course. Nomar was on the October 31st red-eye to LAX. No question. So what else can you ask of Theo? He did a pretty good job preventing Mo Vaughn redux. The move does not create the offensive deficit most people believe. Do you really think Henry, Inc. would not have run the numbers before pulling the trigger? DM and The OC (I can see the T's in the Landsdowne Shop now) will hit much better when protected by the Sox line-up. Also, Nomar's immaturity re: his contract demanded he be traded. He personally created an oil & water clubhouse chemistry. Trading him alleviates a tence situation and allows the team to relax and concentrate on winning ballgames.

JH, Phoenix, AZ

Yes! Minky and Cabrara are gonna get back up to .300 EASY at Fenway. Add to this one of the best defensive infields in the game (something I never thought the Sox would have) and its great. The fact that we now have a bunch of baserunners (Damon, Reese, Cabrara, Roberts) and this team is a threat to steal. We may have lost a superstar, but this team has gained dimension.

Charles Wyman, Union

TWO WORDS: Dan Duquette Theo the boy wonder better hope this doesn't blow up in his face (ie...Cubs in the World Series and Sox falling flat on their face) or Theo will find himself living in Idaho with Buckner!

David, Chicago,IL

I know 60 million over 4 years is alot of money, but being their franchise player, I don't think they should have ruled out increasing the offer. The guy has been the heart and soul of the team, aside from being one of the best players in the game, how can you trade him away and get nothing in return? Thats why we'll never beat the Yankees. The Yankees are committed to winning, and dispite all the talk, the Sox arn't. If Derek Jeter turned down a contract from the Yanks and asked for more money, do you think he'd get it? Or would they turn around and trade him away for nothing? Exactly.

Jeff, Nova Scotia, Canada