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It did cost popular and gritty center fielder Aaron Rowand, but the dream of Thome launching long homers for the South Siders while leading them to another World Series victory was intoxicating.

So with the Sox fading fast to six games behind first-place Detroit, General Manager Kenny Williams traded Thome to the Los Angeles Dodgers just before the 11 p.m. central daylight time deadline Monday to be included on the playoff roster for his new team.

Both are free agents who weren't going to be coming back in 2010 no matter how good or bad the Sox were playing. Now, Thome gets a decent shot at a World Series title with the Dodgers. The only obvious odd thing about the Thome trade is he can no longer play in the field. The Dodgers will have to use him as a pinch hitter until the World Series, that is if L.A. makes it as the National League representative. Thome is one of the finest gentlemen in the game, and maybe Dodger officials are hoping he will help relax the struggling Manny Ramirez, his former teammate in Cleveland.

For those with short memories, Contreras was the ace of that '05 Sox rotation that went 11-1 in postseason play after earning 99 victories in the regular season. But after starting out 2006 on a roll, his career has spiraled downward. He is a pitcher who still has plus stuff, but increased wildness and inability to keep runners from stealing bases have led to far too many losses and short outings.