As long as Buchholz can pitch the 2nd half like he did the last few weeks before the back spasms, I'm good with Beckett-Lester-Buchholz and Wake/Doubront/Lackey/whomever. I don't think there'll be one worth the prospects the Sox would have to give up, unless Seattle nose dives and Beddard becomes available (and he has that bad back and limp attitude). And even then, I think the Yankees out over-pay the Sox if he does.

Only wild card here is the Dodgers, but I don't know if Selig would approve a trade of a name player like Kershaw, Kemp or Ethier. If they did, all bets would be off for Kershaw as I would suspect that the Yankees, Tampa, Texas and the Sox would be willing to offer almost any combination of minor league players (and Tampa would prob add Helickson to any offer they would have as well, even with their budget). But I can say with 95% certainty, The Dodgers are not trading Clayton Kershaw.

If the Sox go for a big deal the cost of a player the quality of Pence or Ethier, who also still have control beyond this year, would likely be prohibitive (caveat: Ed Wade did trade Roy Oswalt for a package but around J.A. Happ, so anything is possible). We're probably talking Iglesias, Reddick/Kalish, and Doubront to start with for Pence, who would solve a heap of issues going forward. But that's probably a pipe dream til the off-season (at best).

The more likely route is a right-handed RF like (gulp) Francoeur - who doesn't have great career numbers against NYY or Tampa - or Ryan Ludwick or that type of player. Even then, such a player could cost more than Theo wants to give up.

All this said, I don't believe the Gammo "no money" B.S. John Henry knows what a WS appearance/win is worth to this team. If one or two moves and another $5M of luxtax gets you there, he'll give the nod.

What this team really needs in the 2nd half is for Buchholz, Crawford, and Lowrie to get and stay healthy, and produce to their abilities, and everyone else to continue to stay or get healthier (Youk) and play well. That happens and this team will win the AL East by 3 games and secure home field for the AL playoffs.