Now that the trade is official, Red Sox Nation can bid its final adieus to Josh Beckett, Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford.
However, the final judgment on this trade will not just come from what the Red Sox gave up, but also in what they received from the Los Angeles Dodgers. The final verdict may not come for years, but hey, who's for waiting when it comes to opinion in the world of sports?
From the Boys in Blue, the Sox received first baseman James Loney, infielder Ivan De Jesus, pitcher Allen Webster and two players to be named later. The Sox also sent the Dodgers an undisclosed sum of cash in the deal.
For the Red Sox the trade represents an organizational shift, shedding a significant amount of salary to gain payroll flexibility going forward. What Boston does with that flexibility remains to be seen, and that will certainly shape how this trade is seen in the years to come. But then again, if you're in the shoes of general manager Ben Cherington, you don't have the advantage of a crystal ball in pulling the trigger.
With that in mind, in the here and now, what grade would you give the Red Sox for Saturday's blockbuster trade?
