"If" all those things go right, then you should also play the lottery and powerball. Lots of question marks means lots of losses, effectively. But the way the red sox were playing with a bunch of guys past or in their prime was getting them nowhere. You might not be very good next yr, but you will also be getting valuable experience for the kids who need to sink or swim in this market.
There is a very strong likelihood that Lavarnway, Middlebrooks, Kalish, Iglesias, Sands and DeJesus play significant (if not leading) roles in your team next yr on offense. And I think Webster, De La Rosa, Doubront, Wilson, and maybe even Barnes will play roles on the mound next yr as well. This reset button gives them great flexibility. I think they go through next yr, see who is sinking, who is swimming, all the while filling the holes with players who fit the previous mold. That leaves them with a blueprint that they can execute come 2014.
I will be totally honest with you here. The way the sox were playing and bumbling these past 12 months has been very comforting to me as a Yankee fan. Today's move, while very bold and does deplete the sox of big league ready talent, makes me much more uncomfortable. I think the sox are rebuilding on the fly and will be playoff ready come 2014/2015