Screw It, Let’s Do It
July 29, 2008 at 11:33 am | Posted in Andre Ethier, Manny Ramirez, rumors | 11 CommentsI wonder exactly how long my “hacked cell phone as modem” net connection is going to last while driving through the cornfields of Wisconsin? I suppose we’ll see. Assuming this actually gets posted, I really wanted to check in on the Manny Ramirez rumors floating around. Yeah, this is going to be another bare-bones post with no pictures and few stats due to the awesome dial-up speeds, but here we go. SI.com’s Jon Heyman:
The Dodgers are one of a few teams showing interest in embattled superstar Manny Ramirez and are currently in discussions with the Red Sox, SI.com has learned.
Dodgers players likely to interest the Red Sox would include young outfielders Matt Kemp and perhaps Andre Ethier.
If you’re a regular MSTI reader, you know our usual stance on overpaid, declining veterans – a big fat NO. Especially when it costs us some good young players, right?
Well, guess what: MSTI is for acquiring Manny Ramirez. I know – I’m surprised too!
Basically, a deal for Manny is only going to get done if the acquiring team agrees to not pick up his options after this year, because Manny has 10/5 rights over any deal. While that might not be great for a team that would be hoping to have him for a few years, it DOES drive the price way down since he’s only a two month rental, and one who’s leaving on terrible terms.
With the terrible position Manny’s put the Sox in, I can’t imagine they have a whole lot of leverage in trade talks. But what to send back? Kemp is too much, and the Sox would never take Jones or Pierre. So I propose this – Ethier and a mid-level pitching prospect for Manny and the Sox eating most or all of his contract for the rest of the year. Yeah, I know – I love Ethier too, and it stinks to give up the next 3-4 years of him under team control for two months of Manny. But Manny is without question a game-changing bat, just the kind that could propel this team into the playoffs. So we put Manny in LF, JP/Jones can share CF (with JP back in LF on Manny’s days off) and Kemp in RF.
The Sox get to finally get rid of the Manny circus, and they get a young OF who can step into his LF spot immediately.
Having Manny in the middle of the lineup with Martin, Loney, Kemp, Kent, and Blake sounds pretty tasty to me. Yeah, this plan isn’t without his perils. Manny might not like the position of the laundry room in relation to the second urinal in the clubhouse and sulk, or whatever the hell sets him off. But think about it. We all know this team goes nowhere without a power bat, and thanks to “Manny being Manny”, he’s driven the price way down. Do you really think that Mark Teixiera could be acquired for anywhere near that? I think not.
And think about this – Manny’s starting his decline phase, he’s been hurt, he’s in the tough AL East, and he’s probably not really trying all that hard. This isn’t a typical Manny year. And you know what? His OPS+ of 144 and 20 homers still make him by FAR the best hitter on the 2008 Dodgers, and it’s not particularly close. Plus, you have to think that could even improve once he gets out of the AL (imagine Manny in Coors!) and gains a whole lot more motivation since he’d know he’s playing for his last big contract.
Don’t trade Kemp for him. Don’t trade LaRoche for him. But if you can do it with Ethier as the centerpiece? So long, Andre. Hello, playoffs.
- Mike Scioscia’s tragic illness 
11 Comments »
RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI
Leave a Reply
How Many McCourt Sins?
MSTI on the web
MSTI Library
Blog at WordPress.com. | Theme: Pool by Borja Fernandez.
Entries and comments feeds.
I’d rather center the move around LaRoche, Pierre and a few middling pitching prospects.
Comment by Dusto— July 29, 2008 #
That doesn’t make any sense. Why would they want Pierre? He’s lousy and overpaid, plus they have way better versions of him in Crisp and Ellsbury.
Comment by Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— July 29, 2008 #
Ethier as a centerpiece for Manny makes sense. Kemp is too valuable to give up and LaRoche will hopefully be our everyday 3B someday. However, McCourt doesn’t want to add more money to the payroll, and reportedly the Red Sox said they’d throw in some money if it gets them more value in return. Which is scary cause the Dodgers may give up a guy like Kemp in order to get a pay-free Manny thanks to Ned’s bad signings clogging up the payroll.
Comment by laftw— July 29, 2008 #
I think we should trade Andruw Jones for Manny. One outfielder for another, why not?
Comment by Dodger and Angel fan— July 29, 2008 #
Why would the Sox want Jones? HE has more $ left than Manny & stinks.
Comment by Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— July 30, 2008 #
Juan Pierre is a better fielder…there’s enough dysfunction in the house….
Comment by Karlo— July 30, 2008 #
I’d rather give up LaRoche and pitching prospects than Either. Either would not provide enough pop to entice Red Sox anyway. They’d want Kemp.
Comment by Jeromy— July 30, 2008 #
hell why don’t we trade them Pierre, Jones, Kent, and Nomar for Ramirez and Beckett?
Come on guys. Ethier and a mid level prospect for Manny would be a great deal. IF we traded Kemp we had better be getting someone with equal potential and talent. Manny isn’t exactly a young buck. But his power in our line-up and the fact that it should force less playing time for either Jones or Pierre makes him that much more valuable.
Comment by BlueInColorado— July 30, 2008 #
Why would the Sox want Jones? Don’t really know, my comment was a bit sarcastic. But realistically Jones is still a good defensive player and the Sox would want another outfielder if they let Manny go. Jones is obviously not happy in LA, and would probably love to head back east. The Sox don’t really need his bat, are looking to remove Manny and his bad attitude and more important, the Yankees would love to get Manny out of the AL and off the east coast. Andy boy, the Dodgers could sure use a hitter, and Torre seems to do well with the veterans. And I’m sure Joe knows all about Manny and his attitude.
Comment by Dodger and Angel fan— July 30, 2008 #
Well, it’s LaRoche. I still think this is probably a good trade. If nothing else, Manny has the history-of-winningness and veteranity that Torre loves so much in Pierre and Jones, so they ought to be the ones sitting.
Comment by b.rock— July 31, 2008 #
[...] has a lot more to offer on the field than Broadway Joe did. I’ve already been called out on this quote from 2 days before the trade: Don’t trade Kemp for him. Don’t trade LaRoche for him. But if you [...]
Pingback by So… I Didn’t Miss Much, Right? « Mike Scioscia’s tragic illness— August 5, 2008 #