The addition of Manny Ramirez

[AramisRamirez]

this has been mentioned before, but i think if the sox dangle him again this off-season you have to seriously consider adding him. yes, the price tag is as expensive as they come, but without question his level of impact is enormous. knowing the cubs organization like we do, the chances of us trading for him is basically non-existent. BUT if it were to go down, he would be the only addition with any financial baggage. we'd go cheap to fill every position, but even then bringing in manny could completely change the team. lets look at an off-season featuring manny.....

 

cedeno and murton become fixtures in the starting lineup. cedeno, neifi, and todd walker make up the 2B/SS rotation. Nomar and Burnitz are let go to play elsewhere. The pitching staff has no new faces either. So here we go with the 2006 cubs:

 

OF hairston

2B walker

1B lee

OF manny

3B aramis

C barrett

SS cedeno

OF murton

 

SP1 prior

SP2 zambrano

SP3 wood

SP4 rusch

SP5 maddux (hello 5.00 ERA during vesting option year)

 

RP dempster

 

literally dempster would be the only other deal negiotiated worth any money. but i think this lineup trumps the other scenario's involving furcal or brian giles. the Trib isnt about to sign both furcal and giles to lucrative deals, and i think we pretty much need both to signifcantly improve. both are very good players and as a tandem their level of impact would be huge --but individually neither would have the impact that manny would obviously bring.

 

for the record, manny currently has 36 HR's, 126 RBI's, and a .380 OBP. those numbers are astronomical, as he should finish with 135 RBI's. should the cubs bite the bullet and pick up his monster deal, we would have Murderer's Row with Derrek Lee, Manny, and Aramis Ramirez. i cant imagine any pitching staff in the league being able to handle those 3 on a consistent basis.

 

i havent looked into what our payroll would be or how this deal could be struck. i'd be willing to give up doperiak, guzman, and other top prospects because the thought of Manny in the heart of our lineup brings a smile to my face.

 

if we really had D-lee, Manny, and Aramis hitting consecutively we could be looking at mammoth production in '06:

 

D-Lee .315 BA, 35 HR, 110 RBI, 15 SB

Manny .300 BA, 38 HR, 146 RBI

Aramis .319 BA, 33 HR, 106 RBI

 

i would literally quit working and become a Cubs Head, the sports version of a Dead Head. just follow them around from stadium to stadium asking fellow game goers to 'miracle me'.....

 

anybody think adding Manny by himself would propel the cubs to a playoff birth??

[Proven Veteran]

I think that team would still finish behind the Cards.

[B]

You know Dusty wouldn't bat 3 rh batters in a row. "You have to mix it up dude. It's all about mathups b/c that makes me look like I know what I'm doing."

[AAApittsburgh]

You know Dusty wouldn't bat 3 rh batters in a row. "You have to mix it up dude. It's all about mathups b/c that makes me look like I know what I'm doing."

Well, he did last year. Didn't have much choice.

[AramisRamirez]

You know Dusty wouldn't bat 3 rh batters in a row. "You have to mix it up dude. It's all about mathups b/c that makes me look like I know what I'm doing."

 

lol!!! yeah totally. here is dusty's lineup with manny:

 

OF hairston

2b walker

1B lee

SS neifi perez

OF manny

3B aramis

OF murton

C barrett

 

"dude i owe it to neifi to bat him clean-up"

[muntjack]

I still fail to see why this is implausable. We'll have LOTS of money to spend, Hendry and Baker will have a great deal of pressure to improve and Manny WILL be shopped. The question is, do we give up a big prospect (Pie) to entice Boston to eat some of the contract?

 

I almost guarantee that this deal will at least be discussed this winter.

[Schwarber Fan]

You know Dusty wouldn't bat 3 rh batters in a row. "You have to mix it up dude. It's all about mathups b/c that makes me look like I know what I'm doing."

 

lol!!! yeah totally. here is dusty's lineup with manny:

 

OF hairston

2b walker

1B lee

SS neifi perez

OF manny

3B aramis

OF murton

C barrett

 

"dude i owe it to neifi to bat him clean-up"

 

Um.... are you kidding? With Macias still on the team, do you really think murton will be starting???

 

OF Hairston

SS Neifi

1B Lee

OF Macias

OF Manny

3B Aramis

2B Walker

C Barrett

 

"man, Macias is really clutch, dude"

[Derwood]

The only guarantee is that Baker will bat Barrett last, despite a .290 average and nearly 60 RBI.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

we don't need a butcher in LF along with an attitude problem.

[Backtobanks]

All of you are forgetting "Dusty" logic. Obviously, Macias plays and bats first with Perez 2nd. At the end of the season, Dlee, Manny, and Aram combine for 150 HRs and 187 RBIs with Dusty's lineup.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

The Cubs have the payroll to easily absorb Ramirez's contract. I usually won't advocate paying anyone 20 million a season, but with the weak FA crop, if the Cubs could get Ramirez, they would be fools not to take that leap.

 

Adding Manny would greatly improve the offense. In fact, that move alone might be all we would need even if you brought back the same supporting cast as this year. A middle of the order of Lee, M Ramirez, and A Ramirez would be formidable.

[CuseCubFan69]

I just can't see Hendry adding Ramirez after the Sosa debacle. Big contract high maintenance players are not going to be something he goes after IMO. Yeah, he'd be a nice addition but I just don't think it'll happen.

[CubinNY]

I just can't see Hendry adding Ramirez after the Sosa debacle. Big contract high maintenance players are not going to be something he goes after IMO. Yeah, he'd be a nice addition but I just don't think it'll happen.

 

I agree, although I don't think he'd be a nice addition. IMO Manny will be in Met pin stripes next year, with either Beltran or Cameron wearing Boston Red. If Beltran comes over the Mets also send a prospect. If Cameron comes over Boston pays some money and the Mets send a prospect.

 

I'd be willing to bet that Manny is a Met next year.

[CuseCubFan69]

I just can't see Hendry adding Ramirez after the Sosa debacle. Big contract high maintenance players are not going to be something he goes after IMO. Yeah, he'd be a nice addition but I just don't think it'll happen.

 

I agree, although I don't think he'd be a nice addition. IMO Manny will be in Met pin stripes next year, with either Beltran or Cameron wearing Boston Red. If Beltran comes over the Mets also send a prospect. If Cameron comes over Boston pays some money and the Mets send a prospect.

 

I'd be willing to bet that Manny is a Met next year.

 

Imagine if the Mets just have to unload Cameron to Boston and pick up Manny's salary? They'd be a fun team to watch as long as Pedro's arm doesn't fall off.

[TB_11]

I still fail to see why this is implausable. We'll have LOTS of money to spend, Hendry and Baker will have a great deal of pressure to improve and Manny WILL be shopped. The question is, do we give up a big prospect (Pie) to entice Boston to eat some of the contract?

 

I almost guarantee that this deal will at least be discussed this winter.

 

The Tribune company has always had lots of money to spend. They care about making a profit, and would rather not pay $20M/year to one player.

[Diffusion]

All these "let's add Manny to the middle of the order" plans are very very original and interesting, but how exactly do we plan on going about making this happen? Who are we trading to the Red Sox? Todd Wellemeyer, Cliff Bartosh and used baseballs?

[goonys evil twin]

All these "let's add Manny to the middle of the order" plans are very very original and interesting, but how exactly do we plan on going about making this happen? Who are we trading to the Red Sox? Todd Wellemeyer, Cliff Bartosh and used baseballs?

 

The Red Sox have already put him on waivers at least once. I think it's pretty clear they are willing to give him away.

[Tim]

All these "let's add Manny to the middle of the order" plans are very very original and interesting, but how exactly do we plan on going about making this happen? Who are we trading to the Red Sox? Todd Wellemeyer, Cliff Bartosh and used baseballs?

 

The Red Sox have already put him on waivers at least once. I think it's pretty clear they are willing to give him away.

Did they put him on waivers again before this season? If not, they may not be willing to just give him away with that much less remaining on his contract. It might also be that they were willing to give him away when there was a Vlad or a Beltran on the open market, but not when Giles is the cream of the crop.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

All these "let's add Manny to the middle of the order" plans are very very original and interesting, but how exactly do we plan on going about making this happen? Who are we trading to the Red Sox? Todd Wellemeyer, Cliff Bartosh and used baseballs?

 

The Red Sox have already put him on waivers at least once. I think it's pretty clear they are willing to give him away.

 

That's true, but the more time that goes by, the more manageable his contract becomes going forward. Just because they put him on waivers last year doesn't mean they'll be willing to do the same with another 20 million already paid to him.

[TheDude]

I still fail to see why this is implausable. We'll have LOTS of money to spend, Hendry and Baker will have a great deal of pressure to improve and Manny WILL be shopped. The question is, do we give up a big prospect (Pie) to entice Boston to eat some of the contract?

 

I almost guarantee that this deal will at least be discussed this winter.

I think it is improbable because I don't see the Cubs have any marquee piece of the deal that the Red Sox want, assuming Chicago doesn't dangle Prior or Zambrano.

 

The Red Sox don't have to dump Manny's salary. And knowing what the FA market looks like, and knowing they are still a top dog in the AL, they will require a marquee impact player in the deal.

[goonys evil twin]

All these "let's add Manny to the middle of the order" plans are very very original and interesting, but how exactly do we plan on going about making this happen? Who are we trading to the Red Sox? Todd Wellemeyer, Cliff Bartosh and used baseballs?

 

The Red Sox have already put him on waivers at least once. I think it's pretty clear they are willing to give him away.

Did they put him on waivers again before this season? If not, they may not be willing to just give him away with that much less remaining on his contract. It might also be that they were willing to give him away when there was a Vlad or a Beltran on the open market, but not when Giles is the cream of the crop.

 

Yes, I realize this, but my point is they were willing to give him away before. They've been talking about trading him ever since. The comment I responded to was the insinuation that the Cubs wouldn't have the value to satisfy Boston. I think it's quite clear it won't take equal value to get them to give up Manny. And if the Cubs wanted him, they could get a deal done.

 

I just don't think there is anyway the suits, Andy or Jim will have any interest in risking another Sosa situation.

[Diffusion]

All these "let's add Manny to the middle of the order" plans are very very original and interesting, but how exactly do we plan on going about making this happen? Who are we trading to the Red Sox? Todd Wellemeyer, Cliff Bartosh and used baseballs?

 

The Red Sox have already put him on waivers at least once. I think it's pretty clear they are willing to give him away.

Did they put him on waivers again before this season? If not, they may not be willing to just give him away with that much less remaining on his contract. It might also be that they were willing to give him away when there was a Vlad or a Beltran on the open market, but not when Giles is the cream of the crop.

 

Yes, I realize this, but my point is they were willing to give him away before. They've been talking about trading him ever since. The comment I responded to was the insinuation that the Cubs wouldn't have the value to satisfy Boston. I think it's quite clear it won't take equal value to get them to give up Manny. And if the Cubs wanted him, they could get a deal done.

 

I just don't think there is anyway the suits, Andy or Jim will have any interest in risking another Sosa situation.

 

No, the comment you responded to was a) making a point of the fact that everyone here is mentioning how trading for Manny Ramirez is such a swell idea, but no one's throwing any names out there as to just which players we could use to make this happen and b) making light of the fact that generally people seem to hugely overrate the Cubs' assets.

 

I know that Boston aren't opposed to getting rid of Manny. They've actually got brains in Boston. What I want to know is what people here think we should give up to get Manny. You know, like, names.

[goonys evil twin]

I know that Boston aren't opposed to getting rid of Manny. They've actually got brains in Boston. What I want to know is what people here think we should give up to get Manny. You know, like, names.

 

That would obviously depend entirely on what the financial exchanges look like. If the Cubs take on the entire deal, I really don't think it would take much. Mitre and Williams would probably serve the Sox really well pitching 300+ innings between them and taking advantage of that offense, for very little compensation. A three way deal can't be ignored, possibly involving the Mets, with Cameron, Floyd and Beltran as potential players going to Boston. Even though he's nothing like the patient, high OBP player that characterizes the Boston offense, I could see them taking Corey and hitting him at the bottom of their order. Better coaching could still allow Patterson to develop better habits, and my guess is Theo would be interested in taking guys who are at their lowest trade value. I could also see them taking an interest in guys like Sing and Craig. And I would not be surprised if Boston had an interest in a guy like Kelton, who would be a poor man's Kevin Millar, with less patience but similar platoon ability.

 

But Boston is also going to be looking for 2B/3B help this offseason. They might be happy to take back Walker at $2.5m.

 

I think they might be willing to take something like Mitre, Williams, Patterson and Craig/Sing. Or Mitre, Williams and Walker, if they were able to do a follow-up deal that nets them a solid bat elsewhere. There are not going to be many teams willing or able to touch Manny. The Mets might be the only other besides the Cubs.

 

But again, I don't see the Cubs having any interest in Manny, and I'm not even sure what my interest is.

[Diffusion]

Thanks goony, that's the kind of thing I was looking for :)

[CubfaninCA]

All these "let's add Manny to the middle of the order" plans are very very original and interesting, but how exactly do we plan on going about making this happen? Who are we trading to the Red Sox? Todd Wellemeyer, Cliff Bartosh and used baseballs?

 

The Cubs don't have the cajones to do it, but Kerry, Walker and Patterson could probably get it done.