I don't think we can say this for certain. I think we can say what a lot of us said going into August - top prospects shouldn't have been moved for rentals; but it's certainly plausible to say they should have been moved for long term pieces.
We'll never know, but just as an example: ostensibly there was a deal close to being done that would have sent Turner to Miami for Edward Cabrera. I can't imagine Miami would have done this straight up, but would adding Drohan to whatever was discussed have pushed that across the finish line.
Could the Red Sox have added someone like Drohan to players like Paxton and Duval and have gotten something pretty good for the long term?
Again, it's totally unknowable. Moving top prospects for RENTALS at the deadline was pretty much always a folly, and most of the board was in agreement on that I think. But trading them for long term pieces, especially those that pitch, would have probably been a good idea (Thwe don't know if it was available).
Looking forward to it
@JM3, that's yeoman's work you're doing with those lists, and it's appreciated.