Given that Manny was holding this team hostage and all the other GMs knew it, I'm skeptical it gets done for less, and Bay was a shortlist player of suitable replacements, IMO. He won't replace Manny's bat, but there's more to the game. He's already shown he's much better in the field and on the bases. By LWts, it's about a wash, add defense, I feel the Sox became a better overall team.
One point was made by Rician Blast, and I feel it's an important one. Whatever Manny does in LA should not be construed as production lost by the Red Sox. He was not only a distraction here, but he was distracted too. I realize that FA is impending for him and he would have tried to go out and do his best, but still, in the back of his mind, he would know he wasn't where he wanted to be, wasn't where he felt "respected" (right, wrong, or indifferent), and as everyone knows, the most productive Manny is a happy Manny.
I wouldn't be so quick to malign the NL West pitching. I'd pit the elite pitchers he will face against the elite from the AL East he'd face. Manny will do what Manny will do because he's a once in a generation hitter, and he's finally, for the time being, happy.