They might be better off with Junior at first, though they may not want to move him in the middle of the season and a pennant race. At least Swisher has played there before.
I don't think the drop-off in overall play between Bay and Ramirez is bad for Boston. However, Epstein and Lucchino and Henry must despise him to give up that much: paying the contract PLUS two players.
Colletti should become the first general manager to be fired after winning Executive of the Year for this deal. They gave up nothing they cared about for two free months of Manny Ramirez. If they were worried about LaRoche, they would be playing him over Blake "Almost Sounds Like A Major Appliance" DeWitt.
As a side note, after looking up the White Sox, is there any more underrated player in baseball then Jermaine Dye?
He hasn't had a below-average year (OPS+ wise, at least) since 2003. He's probably going to hit 40 home runs for the second year of the past three. He hits for average, and doesn't strike out all that much for a power-hitter. And though I don't keep up with it I've never heard any issues with his defense.
Outside of a young player on a lesser team (*cough*
Nick Markakis*cough*), I can't think of too many more.