Manny Ramirez?

[CP_414]

From Buster Olney's blog today...

 

Manny Ramirez's contract has been the 160-ton weight hanging around the necks of the Red Sox for six years, and Boston executives have repeatedly tried to do his bidding and unload the slugger, despite the fact that he drives in 130 runs a year. The Red Sox have tried to waive him, trade him, swap him, sell him, everything.

Gordon Edes reported in September that Ramirez once again asked to be traded, and early in the offseason, Red Sox executives felt there was little chance of that happening, because of the remaining financial weight of the contract (two years, about $40 million) and because of how Manny sometimes conducts himself (Phillies GM Pat Gillick used the word "distraction").

 

But it's as if a volcano loaded to the dome with cash has erupted, money is flowing all over the place, and the baseball landscape is changing by the hour, and if you're a 38-year-old slugger like Frank Thomas, with bad wheels and a horrendous injury history, you can get a deal in which you can make north of $30 million. And in this new world, Manny Ramirez is suddenly a relative bargain. I wonder if the Red Sox might finally find themselves in a climate in which they can trade Ramirez.

 

Imagine if you are the Cubs, or the Mets, or the Astros, and you are looking for offensive help. You will bid heavily on Alfonso Soriano or Carlos Lee, and either may cost you somewhere in the range of $80 million to $120 million.

 

Say that price scares you. Say that six- or seven-year commitment scares you. And say that you are desperate to add an impact-type bat.

 

Do you go with Soriano at seven years, at $120 million?

 

Or do you look at an alternative who is much cheaper and yet somehow more accomplished: Ramirez, who might cost you a couple of prospects and $42 million over three years. Ramirez, who has driven in 100 or more runs in 11 of the last 12 seasons.

 

"A no-brainer," an American League executive said yesterday. "Manny looks much better in this market."

 

We say three years and $42 million because in the end, Ramirez, who has a full no-trade clause in his contract, will probably want a year added to the end of his current deal to make this happen. And the Red Sox will probably eat some of his salary -- but not nearly as much as would have been required to make a trade happen even two months ago.

 

 

Also...

 

The Red Sox are involved heavily in the bidding for J.D. Drew, and appear to be the front-runners for shortstop Julio Lugo, writes Nick Cafardo.

 

And...

 

The Cubs are looking at Jason Marquis, along with a couple of other veteran pitchers, writes Phil Rogers. Within this story, there is word that GM Jim Hendry wants to go into spring training with Mark Prior slotted in as the No. 6 starter -- in other words, the Cubs don't want to count on him, but will hope for the best. Rogers also writes that the Cubs signed Henry Blanco to a two-year deal, leading to speculation that they might attempt to trade Michael Barrett.

 

Bad news...

 

A-Rod says he's committed to playing for the Yankees, as Tyler Kepner writes

[Wheelimus]

No way they're trading Barrett except for a big time upgrade. Hogwash.

 

Manny? Yes please, trade whichever prospects it takes.

[Abe Frohman]

I would love to see this, even if the Cubs have to extend his contract a couple years (4 years, $50-60 million). MUCH better deal than Soriano.

 

I would love to see the Cubs snag Julio Lugo. He would be invaluable on this team.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

Manny would at least be entertaining, we could use that.

[JWCUB]

If the Sox land Drew, do you think that makes Manny expendable?

[macuser2]

Manny would at least be entertaining, we could use that.

 

Well yes, he and Lou could put on quite a show. :D

[USSoccer]

Manny would at least be entertaining, we could use that.

 

Well yes, he and Lou could put on quite a show. :D

 

Imagine what the Hustle Police would do with Manny jogging every ground ball and pop fly out?

[VanceJergins]

How horrible do you think Manny would be in RF? Or maybe the better option would be to move Murton to RF and keep Manny in LF.

 

3-4-5 of Lee, M and A Ramirez = holy frigity crap.

[JWCUB]

How horrible do you think Manny would be in RF? Or maybe the better option would be to move Murton to RF and keep Manny in LF.

 

3-4-5 of Lee, M and A Ramirez = holy frigity crap.

 

Thats what I'm sayin.

[ConstableRabbit]

I'm a huge fan of Manny.

[XZero771679666304]

Trade Izturis and prospects to Boston, nab Lugo and Drew, and then:

 

1.Lugo

2.DeRosa

3.Drew

4.Lee

5.M.Ramirez

6.A.Ramirez

7.Barrett

8.Jones

 

 

:shock:

 

A man can dream......

[RynoRules]

Trade Izturis and prospects to Boston, nab Lugo and Drew, and then:

 

1.Lugo

2.DeRosa

3.Drew

4.Lee

5.M.Ramirez

6.A.Ramirez

7.Barrett

8.Jones

 

 

:shock:

 

A man can dream......

 

Love it, but a slightly more realistic scenario might be:

 

1. Lugo

2. Murt

3. Manny

4. Lee

5. ARam

6. Barrett

7. Jacque Jones

8. DeRosa

 

I could live with that. Not great, but probably a good start.

[XZero771679666304]

Trade Izturis and prospects to Boston, nab Lugo and Drew, and then:

 

1.Lugo

2.DeRosa

3.Drew

4.Lee

5.M.Ramirez

6.A.Ramirez

7.Barrett

8.Jones

 

 

:shock:

 

A man can dream......

 

Love it, but a slightly more realistic scenario might be:

 

1. Lugo

2. Murt

3. Manny

4. Lee

5. ARam

6. Barrett

7. Jacque Jones

8. DeRosa

 

I could live with that. Not great, but probably a good start.

 

I think that would be a darned good offense.

[Balsa]

I think that would be a darned good offense.

Far and away the best in the NL Central.

[fromthestretch]

How horrible do you think Manny would be in RF? Or maybe the better option would be to move Murton to RF and keep Manny in LF.

 

Manny was a right fielder in Cleveland. He didn't play LF until he went to the Red Sox. He has the arm for it.

[waffle]

manny is an adventure out there, but I think he led the AL in assists recently. GOD I would love to see him hit in Wrigley. He'd get Sammy level love I think. I personally love to watch manny hit. He's simply amazing. I gotta think he'd enjoy playing in Chicago also. The pressure is still there, hey, he's a professional athlete, but Chicago fans are a bit more relaxed than RSox fans. Quite a bit (I come from a family of them, Rsox fans that is).

[RynoRules]

I think that would be a darned good offense.

Far and away the best in the NL Central.

 

Thanks - I just think that scenario is the most "do-able". With DeRosa already on bd, you don't have to give a bloated contract to guys whose history of production do not warrant it (Soriano, Lee, and, in some circles, Drew) in order to make it happen.

 

I would think Lugo is seeking 4 yrs and 24 mill, or thereabouts. Manny has about 40 some-odd mill and 3 yrs left on his deal (I think), and we would probably have to tack on more year and give up low-level prospects (after all, we are assuming his entire contract) in order to make the deal work. I am fine with that. Manny probably has 3 years of high-level productivity left. If the need arises you can trade him to an AL team to DH for the last year of his contract.

[CheeseHead Cubs Fan]

Red Sox GM Theo Epstein wouldn't rule out a Manny Ramirez deal while talking with SI.com.

"We're keeping all options open, and we'll see what's out there," Epstein said. Ramirez is owed $38 million over the next two years and $8 million of that is deferred, so his contract isn't looking that bad in this market. If the Red Sox could move Ramirez, they'd have plenty of money with which to sign both J.D. Drew and Julio Lugo. Also, they could use Wily Mo Pena in left field, where his troubles on defense would be less of a problem.

 

Put him in Cubbie blue please!

[Brad]

Im salivating at the thought of Manny playing for the Cubs next year.

[Pinktermite]

If the Sox want that defensive shortstop, we have that. And Theriot can play short. We also have the expendable bullpen arms now and Papelbon is moving to the rotation next year. This seems to be a likely scenario...

 

Manny would seem to be the logical endpoint here...or Westbrook...

 

What's Jim cooking up here?

[BigbadB]

Let us not forget that Hendry has been quoted to say that no one will beat his bid for Soriano.

 

Manny and Soriano would be a pretty big score.

[PrimeTime]

i would love to have Manny playing at Wrigley.. A Career line of .314/.411/.500/1.011 This guy would be crushing balls into lake michigan..If hope we are pursuing him, or if we dont land a Soriano, or C Lee, Definetley go and get Manny

[David]

Let us not forget that Hendry has been quoted to say that no one will beat his bid for Soriano.

 

Manny and Soriano would be a pretty big score.

 

Manny and Drew woudl be a bigger one. :)

[Garwilly]

i would love to have Manny playing at Wrigley.. A Career line of .314/.411/.500/1.011 This guy would be crushing balls into lake michigan..If hope we are pursuing him, or if we dont land a Soriano, or C Lee, Definetley go and get Manny

 

Opposite field power? :lol:

[CuseCubFan69]

Any two of the 3 Drew, Manny, Soriano would be fine. I think if the Cubs sign Drew then they won't be able to get Manny as easily as they would if Boston signs Drew. I'd prefer Drew and Manny myself.