That's a good point, but if I'm not mistaking, that was in a year where there was a relatively deep free agent pool, especially in the outfield. Was it the year Beltran was a FA? Or Vlad maybe? Anyways, I remember there was a plethora of outfielders available that the Sox could have signed if Manny's mammoth contract had been picked up by someone. Not that they were MannyCaliber, but we could have gotten another star and slotted him into left to make the loss less catastrophic. Trading Tejada...there's no one in the league that can even close to make up at SS what they'd be losing in dealing Tejada. They're still going to command a high price.
And I agree with the aforementioned...I like what I've seen from Hansen, but there's no way Papelbon could be included in this deal. Hansen may be the closer of the future, but Little Pappy is the closer of now, and I want him staying. Lester, too. This kid is a stud. Only deal I'd EVER OK Lester in is one that brought a proven frontline starter in his mid 20's to Boston.