I'd definately take Maddux if the Sox did it at the right price, which would be around 2 yr 10 mill, if you had to go 2 yrs. This guy makes everyone on the staff better, has pitched in tons of big games and is the consumate professional. I agree the Sox would then need another pitcher, but Maddux won 15 games last year and still had an ERA in the 3's. While he will likely go on the decline, he's still a very good pitcher that can bring his a game and I could see him really stepping up in clutch situations such as the playoffs (If the Sox somehow got into them) next season.
The flaw is, I don't think they are close cause too many false rumors have been going around lately. I'll believe it when I see it mentioned elsewhere. I've always noticed that the Sox typically make deals and you never here anything. The only exception to that I can think of is when they got Colon, but thats simply because their was speculation for so long.
But who even though Buehrle would sign or that the Sox were about to get Carl Everett and Roberto Alomar.