I actually had a discussion about this the other day with my friend.
If players association had allowed A-Rod to restructure his deal and make way for the A-Rod/Manny trade to go through I think we're still talking about the curse of the Bambino. A-Rod isn't clutch. Manny is/was. If you guys had A-Rod instead of Manny I don't think you even win a pennant. Those Red Sox teams without Manny don't win the World Series, no doubt about it in my mind. And that's also part of what made ortiz so good in those postseasons, Manny's presence behind him. If it was A-Rod, and he performed in the clutch as he has as a Yankee then Ortiz is constantly getting pitched around (assuming it was Ortiz batting in frotn of A-Rod and not the other way around). We would still have Soriano, not be on the hook for a gazillion dollars over the next 10 years, and Cano would be playing third (sure as hell wouldn't be Aaron Boone, Mike Lamb, Drew Henson, or Eric Duncan). We wouldn't have to deal with the constant drama and baggage that comes along with A-Rod, and we would be s***ing on you guys when the revelations of his steroid use surfaced.
I blame Fehr and Orza for the past 5-6 years. f*** YOU DONALD FEHR AND GENE ORZA!
Would have been even better if Miggy went over there, would have been another steroid user we could throw in your faces lol. not to mention your other points; no Lester, probably no Beckett, no Lowell. God damn greedy union.