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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Babe Ruth Carlton Fisk Roger Clemens NOMAR I wonder why we, as sox fans, continue to endure the the torture we put ourselves through, I mean, can it get any more pathetic...Oh yeah, what am I thinking, There's always next year!! Yea right! Go Patriots!!

Mike, Florida

Yes, I would liked Matt Clement too, but we made out reasonably well here. Yes Nomar is a great hitter, but scoring runs is not our problem (2nd in the league). Defense has been our achilles heel (pardon the pun). We are among the league leaders in unearned runs. We have added two gold gloves to our team at the cost of a guy who was with us for two more months max. After October, he walks, and we get nothing anyway. My prediction, both Doug and Orlando are hitting over .280 by the end of the year thanks to the hitter friendly Fenway. We make less errors in the field (helping Lowe) and we steal more bases (Roberts). When Reese is back, we have a Mueller, Cabrera, Reese, Doug infield. Not bad. As far as our lineup? Minus Nomar's RBI production this year and we are still among the league leaders in runs. Go Sox. ALDS: 3-1 Over the Twins ALCS: 4-2 Over the Yankees World Series: 4-3 Over the Cardinals (revenge for '67)

Will , Los Angeles

Defense wins championships. Nomar is great and with out question his bat will be missed. However this team has made too many costly errors, leading the majors in un-earned runs allowed. Adding two gold gloves at short and first is a significant upgrade. Intentionally or not, Nomar sent a message in prior to spring training last season, when he turned down $60 million for four years. Considering he was walking after this season, Red Sox management made out about as well as they could have hoped, certainly solidifying a defense that has lead the major in un-earned runs allowed for the majority of the season. Whether or not that will deliver a championship remains to be seen. However the Sox have addressed an area of major concern, and in the process found a way to get help right away for a great player that they were, unfortunately, sure theywould not be able to re-signing after this season. As painful as it is to Nomar - a great Red Sox star in the prime of his career - it would have been worse for him to walk after 2004, getting partically nothing in return. Of course it remains up to this team to make sure this block-buster trade is worthwhile. I say with conviction: "Keep The Faith!"

Jim Ebersole, Bethlehem

To all those who think this is a HORRIBLE trade: Never complain about defense again! Never complain about Kevin Millar again!! Never complain about small ball again!! YOU CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS!!!!!!!!! Typical Red Sox fans- would rather keep unhappy (overrated team leader) player and continue horrible defense and cry about the non-moves than to address several areas to better the team. The Curse isn't the team, the Curse is the pathetic fandom that continues to knaw on its own wounds. The only thing sad about today is your reactions.

Andrea, LaHabra

I can't believe they couldn't get more for Nomar. Cabrera is a better player than his stats indicate this year, but he isn't signed for next year, just like Nomar.. Thus, we basically get Doug M. for Nomar. Ouch. That having been said, I can't say I feel bad for Nomar. He sealed his fate when he rejected a 4 year $60 million contract. Please don't feed us this crap that you wanted to spend your entire career in Bsoton. If that was the case you should have taken the contract. Fire your agent if he was the one being greedy, but don't blame the ownership team for not paying ridiculous money.

Mike, N. Grafton

I'm disappointed to say the least, to trade the player that Ted Williams called, "the greatest player to ever play for the Red Sox" for a two players that are defensively slightly better than the two players they replaced, yet light-years behind them offensively is embarrassing for the City of Boston and the Boston Red Sox. Theo made it clear that we weren't going to be able to sign him so a trade was regrettably necessary, but to trade him for two waiver wire guys???

Artie, North Attleboro

Bucky Dent? Aaron Boone? Theo Bleeping Epstein.

Elise Murphy, Washington, DC

YES. I it is a good deal especially IF they now sign Cabrera, who is a free agent at the end of the season as well. This team wasn't going to win it all and it still might not, but atleast Nomar didn't leave the Sox with nothing in return like Clemens and Vaughn did.

Brian, Brighton

While it is sad to see Nomar go, I don't blame the Sox brass on pulling the trigger. It seemed obvious that Nomar was going to walk after the season, and it is better to get something now than nothing later. A first baseman, shortstop, and outfielder is what the team needed. Now, we can work on some pitching help.

Tim, Tempe, Arizona

I'm not even a Red Sox fan and this deal makes me sick. Nomar should have finished his career in Boston. I feel for ya Sox fans.

Mike B, NB, Canada