The Rumor That Will Not Die

Just when you thought the Nomar rumors were dead in the water.

Confirming a report in Wednesday's Boston Globe, the executive says the Sox are "working on" a trade that would send shortstop Nomar Garciaparra to the Cubs for righthander Matt Clement and also have talked about dealing righthander Derek Lowe to the Padres in a deal that could land them center fielder Jay Payton.

The Cubs resisted trading Clement due to physical questions surrounding righthanders Kerry Wood and Mark Prior, but their rotation is the healthiest it has been all season. Wood, Prior, Carlos Zambrano and Greg Maddux still would form an impressive front four, and lefthander Glendon Rusch could take over the fifth spot. The addition of Garciaparra could make the risk worthwhile.

You pull that off Hendry and I will declare you a God!