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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I loved Nomar - he was fun to watch, gave 100% every game. This last chapter in the saga included some unhappiness but that can't undo all the amazing things he did in a Red Sox uniform. Looks like the Sox got three late inning defensive replacements for the great Nomar. Chalk this one up as pressure to do "something" whether it was beneficial or not (in this case - NOT).

Nat Salvione, Seattle

Booooooooooooooooooooo! No we are not better off. Even Jeter said today, "You think Red Sox, Nomar's the first name you think of." I don't know what Theo means my complaining about how we'll never get to the World Series with things the same......we got about as close last year as we may ever get. Think of all those kids that will be going to bed tonight crying, probably wearing their beloved Garciaparra shirt..... What a kick in the teeth to the fans. Thanks a lot Theo.

Catherine, Arlington, Virginia

Word is just in that Theo just traded Schilling and Manny to Korea for BK Kims Grandfather and the book "Being a GM for Dummies" so he can learn what the hell he is doing.

Harry, Medford

This deal had to be done... nomar is on the downside of his career, the guy has no plate discipline anymore and his shoulder flies out on every swing... its getting old watching what's become his trademark first pitch popout in foul territory.... plus the whining was too much for our chemistry. we had to bulk up a horrendous infield, and adding mientkiewicz and cabrera with pokey reese gives us 3 gold glovers in there. we have the offense in place with or without him as big a fan as i once was for him. the one complaint i have is wheres the middle relief we should have gotten???

kevin, williamsburg VA

So what's the thinking behind this? Least likely, it might be that John Henry has ordered that we throw in the towel for '04, but that would mean shipping Lowe out with Nomar. Slightly more likely, it could be that Theo actually believes that this improved defense balances the team enough to win more games than with Garciaparra's bat. Most likely, this is an economic decision. Nomar wouldn't sign for 60 over 4 years. He won't sign for less, we won't pay him more. No value at the end of the season....If Lowe's season keeps bouncing off the rocks, he can be resigned for chump-change, perhaps leaving enough for Tek and Pedro as well. The jury's out on how this deal works on the field, but it's a winner on the bottom-line. This game is all business....

Jeff, St. Louis

Hey, trading Cabrera for Garciparra doesnt look so great now. But come December when Nomar left as a free agent and we're looking for a new shortstop, paying top dollar for a kinda sorta guy thats OK, that's where the value is. Then everyone would have been mouthing we should have traded him before it was too late!!!

Todd, Redondo Beach, CA

Is this a good deal? Yeah, for the Cubs! What's up Theo? Why don't we trade Pedro too? His contract is up soon... Actually, lets start rebuilding the team for the 2018 season and make it a cool 100 years between World Champion teams.

Jon, Hingham

there is NO bigger Redsox fan than myself, I live and die with them each yr, in the short term the cubs might have gottten the better of it.....FOR NOW....nomar is a good player, but clearly his head nor heart were in it this yr. Cabrera is a really decent shortstop and Mientkiewicz a decent Ist baseman. i wish nomar had taken the 60 million and we would not have to be going threw this today. We will all miss Nomar...but give the new guys a chance....chances of nomar resigning were slim to none. They did the right thing, as bad as it hurts, Good luck Nomar, you'll be missed

bob, Belhaven NC

I feel sadness at losing the man who personified the Red Sox for so long -- and yet I feel it was the right thing to do. Clearly Nomar wasn't going to stay in Boston, and it made sense to cut bait now and to get something of value. The Sox are now stronger defensively in two positions -- and Theo is right, that they were not going to win a championship playing the kind of defense that has marred this long and inconsistent season. I wish Nomar all the best: he never gave anything less than his best, and I'm happy he's going to another great baseball town. I do hope that he wears a B on his cap in Cooperstown. But this was the right move by the Sox, one that strengthens us for the playoff run.

Al, Bow, NH

I've been reading a lot of comments from all the Red Sox fans around New England and many other places...or where ever sox fans are...the Sox did make a good trade, even though the Cubs got the winning side, the Sox got good gloves, and hopefully, by them adjusting to Fenway Park, which is a hitter's park, will make them potent hitters and help the red sox become a caliber championship team. We've got some depth in defense, and some speed too. Remember, even though Pitching is important, the defense also makes the pitching even better. Bad defense leads to bad things in the ball game and the pitcher loses his confidence, so this is a good deal...i tell you, this is a really good deal, to help our red sox defense, pitching...and hopefully at Fenway Park, we can still pound 15 runs in a game. We've got two months left, we can do it...we've got the wild card and if something dramatic happens, maybe we'll have a chance at clinching the American League East. Just keep your hopes high folks, the time will come and time will only tell if these players make an impact on the Red Sox. Of course, We'll miss Nomar Garciaparra, but you should be happy for him, he's going to a place JUST like Boston, so I'm sure he'll like it there too, but Nomar is always part of the Red Sox in our hearts, and we're sad to see him go, bye bye number 5, but let's keep our hopes high...keep our faith, and we'll have a chance at the World Series. Now, there's 30 teams in the Majors, there's 5% chance that the Red Sox and Cubs will be playing the World Series. The Red Sox are 8.5 games back and the Cubs are 11 games back...so only time will tell, and keep our hopes high!

Grady, Groton, MA