Ah-duh, but that's not the choice. It was Gordon vs a series of random stiffs... thanks to intensive therapy, I have forgotten most of their names, but Noonan currently occupies the roster spot previously reserved for "Epicfail To Be Named Later", and, having contributed ZERO to the team, that makes him the best contributor of them all post-Gordon.
Actually Gordon was traded to make room for JPA. And then the trade fell through at the last moment. And then we did get JPA. And then traded him away to make room for Keane. So, in a weird, twisted way, moving Gordon did get us Keane...