Part salary dump (but not really because they threw in $5 million)

Part giving up on the 2012 season.... If they wanted to fight for the playoffs, they would have gotten good talent back but the Sox didn't want to IMPROVE THE TEAM AT ALL.

Frustrating. I don't even recognize this team and FO anymore.

Although we loved Youk--he had to go--remember Nomar---when the smoke clears and Ells is back (I don't care about CC or Baily---we have Bard) we'll have a good team (If Peety gets on board and supports BV the rest of the team will follow)

Hope you're right Jon....but it would also be hard to make a case that the sox got anything of value from a team that desperately needed a 3B....and now has a very good one indeed....couldnt they have insisted on at least one ready for major league caliber player ???!!!

Lili's numbers suggest he will make Punto look like Ted Williams....and the pitcher in the mix is strictly a minor league project...NOT prospect.

BTW: Bailey returning in form would indeed be a lift...but methinks Crawford will not produce anything like he did in TB.....rumors abound that he may need tommy john surgery if not sooner then later...which will sideline him for yet another wasted year....he is turning out to be one of the bigger blunders of the Theo years..unfortunately -along with, of course Lackey...and both have many more years to milk on their entensive contracts...they have the potential to be not one but two Carl Pavanos....

Meanwhile while I love the play of Ells one rarely hears " Ellsbury" and" Dirtdawg" in the same sentence, eh?...he is really, really injury prone and doesnt seem to have a burning (Youk-like) desire to su c it up and play hurt when necessary...so he may return for a spell and then get a hangnail and be assigned to the 60 day DL.....LOL

Calling Pedroia vermin shows how little you know about the team!

For those with no troll radar, once again this is the agnes troll playing you like squawk boxes.

This was a dump, a needed one. If the word toxic was attributed to the Red Sox, in fairness, it fell on Youk’s shoulders.

There was much I liked about Youk:

1. His patience at the plate; [avg. number of pitches per PA]
2. Healthy on base percentage
3. Continually improving his power numbers
4. Reliable defense on both corners (keep him out of the outfield)
5. Ran the bases sufficiently

What started to turn my enthusiasm from Youk:

1. He did give a character note back in 2004 of his irritation of being sent back to the minors for the 3rd time.

2. In 2006, Julian Tavaras, when coming in from the bullpen, just had a string of bad games. After being taken out of one game, the crowd gave a low keyed booing as he left the mound. Youk was playing first base, in defense of his teammate, Youk flipped the crowd off. There are better ways to support your teammate.

3. Youk’s temper became common knowledge. But in 2008, when the Red Sox had the game in hand, Youk made an out, and dropped F-bombs back to and inside the dugout. And of all people, it was Manny that shoved Youk and told him off. Youk then gave that look, (the same one we got to see in 2012), of “Gee, what did I do?”

4. But my detachment came in 2010, when he questioned Ellsbury and his broken ribs. That’s the worst type of teammate. And then what happens, Youk hurts his thumb, or perhaps the foot he shoved up his mouth, and his season ends. Ellsbury comes back in 2011 and has a MVP season. He even led the team in September where everyone else failed, except Scutaro. And where was Youk … beginning his descent.

5. Early in 2012, when Bobby V. wonders what is going on with Youk, (the same question I had the day before, when he was striking out and turning the wrong direction in a defensive rundown. So what does Youk do, give that look of, “Gee, what did I do?” And this gets an immature media that just has not liked Bobby V. for many years, to question the manager. YET, no one bothered to answer the question, “What’s wrong with Youk?” I thought he was hurt or had personal problems; he looked that much off his game. Turns out he was hurt, and in some ways thankfully, so Middlebrooks could show his stuff.

6. And to the media’s claim that the fans “love Youk”. Well I cheered for him up to his Ellsbury trashing. But this “love” the media ascribes, is because so many fans at the Park are having a good time and will easily change “Youk, Youk”, because it’s fun to do, and it’s not from any further analysis. Heck, he flipped off the crowd and they still chanted Youk during his next AB.

So Nomar had to go, and we all know why. Youk had to go because he’s a distraction with eroding skills. The change of scenery may due him well. Don’t bemoan the value of the trade. Other GM’s have a better understanding of the “outside the lines” behavior.

Now his buddy Pedey needs to be the dirt dog we all cheer for. AND stop trying to fill the role as team spokesman. He’s not good at it. Johnny Damon was good at it. Always level answers, humor, taking pressure off others, and most of all, not trashing anyone. Pedey’s remarks about Bobby V. the day after Youk’s, are inexcusable. T his team, still has potential, especially if the DL can be emptied. Play ball and … just play ball.

Love Peety--but--it's time for him to grow up and buck up--I know his buddy Tito is gone--but he needs to get on board with BV and the rest of the team will follow---besides Peety and BV are more the same than different!

Well said. It's time to turn the page.

LOL, Civic...

Johnny "Ummmm, ahhhh" Damon a better spokemsan?

And while much of what you wrote about Youkilis is from a singular fan perspective, not everyone agrees with your take. I'm one of those fans.

•Sean McAdam of CSNNE.com tweets that the reason the Red Sox didn't get more for Kevin Youkilis is because some offers from interested parties simply stated that they would take Youkilis "for nothing," if the Sox were willing to pick up the entire contract.

I guess they should be happy with what they got.

It was, IMHO, a foregone conclusion.

~ Valentine never wanted him on the team from the get go
~ Valentine called him out about his commitment to the team
~ Valentine (in his final days with the club), never communicated with him

The manager of the Red Sox was able to play an early card, and used Cherington to get his way.

And it's not as though there was going to be a lot coming back from any team; that the Sox got away with what they did is nothing short of pretty amazing.

All this said, there was no choice other than to let someone go to make room on the roster for other returning guys.

And although Youkilis has been plagued recently with injury and his production has tailed off, maybe he's happy to be in a place where he can play.

Meanwhile, let's hope Middlebrooks remains healthy and productive the rest of the way.

"Meanwhile, let's hope Middlebrooks remains healthy and productive the rest of the way."

This....

I think the Sox will be very active come the latter part of July with everybody coming back, if they can just stay close till then.

Well, you're optimistic and that's all right. That is, if you believe the Sox will make a run. If not, then perhaps the Sox will become sellers.

IMHO, it's going to take a couple of weeks before Ellsbury and Crawford can get completely up to speed, assuming they're activated ion the heels of the ASG.

Meanwhile, at 6.5 back in the standings, it's not impossible. But then again, the starting rotation is highly questionable with Buchholz and Beckett. Lester needs to step up and Matsuzaka is what he is. Last night, the Sox did not get the most from Doubront and without his outings, the Sox would not find themselves still in the mix. The point here is the starting pitching has to be better.

After the Sox wrap up with the Jays tomorrow afternoon, it's off to the west coast for the final seven games before the AS break. They cannot afford to lose any more ground.

And while all this is going on, it should be interesting to see what the O's and Rays are going to do this trade season.

I agree with you they cannot fall any further back. The Angels have recovered and will probably claim one of the wild cards playing in an easier division, so IMO they only have the other wild card.