Although I would much prefer that they do. He did, after all, finish second in the A.L. batting race with an average of .337. At least as important as those impressive statistics, but harder to measure, is Vaughn's value as the team's leader. It's a role no one else on the club, particularly Garciaparra, wants to fill. Still, it's not the end of the world if the Sox let Mo go.
Nobody is irreplaceable.
If that doesn't happen, we'll move along. We're comfortable with our position with other options if this doesn't work out. Most Red Sox fans, naturally, hope Mo remains in Boston. If they decide not to meet the market price for Mo, then they'd better use that money, plus the additional revenue from the rise in ticket prices, to bring in players who will make the team appreciably better than it was a year ago. I actually admire Red Sox management for jacking up prices when they did.