The only question that needs to be asked is how to improve on a fifth starter's slot that is basically just pissing away games when it's their turn. While also stressing out an already depleted bullpen.
James Shields was one answer. And he was just acquired for a pittance and had his salary picked up to the point his costs slots right in between two OFs we have currently playing in AAA. The Sox don't need a stud, they need someone to stop the bleeding every fifth day. For nothing prospects and $9-10M a year it was a pretty good answer.
If you're content watching Kelly/Buch/AAA flotsam continue to rotate through, throw four innings and burn the pen, by all means I understand why you wouldn't be interested. I'm just not. And I've yet to see reasonable targets proposed that wouldn't be a significant outlay in prospects.
Shields. Fister. Nolasco. Santana. Guys like that aren't sexy but they're cheap to acquire and they can go out and throw 6-7 innings, keep this team in the game and spell the pen. The crap being trotted out right now is going to bite the team in the ass, one way or another.