It would be one thing if this team was 8 games back, and everyone was injured. The team is 8 games back, and is healthy, minus a few short DL trips. You cannot win a championship, and then let your team fall off the cliff. I am happy going in either direction -- trading players and stockpiling picks, or shoring up the weakneses and trying to make another run at it.
If you think they can wait until 2015 or 2016 to make a run, remember that you may need to replace key pieces like David Ortiz, Koji Uehara, Shane Victorino, Jake Peavy, John Lackey, Jon Lester. That is why it is important to make a run if you can.... plus, the American League seems mediocre outside of Detroit.