Odds and Ends: Roberts, Clark, Vidro, Manny

A Bedard post and now a Roberts post... it's feeling like the off-season again. What I'd really like to see is some rumors about Sherrill. His value isn't going to get any higher than it is right now.

Schmuck talks about Sherrill a bit in his article, implying that his value is down but he might make sense for the Dodgers. But so far I haven't seen a single rumor about a team inquiring on Sherrill.

Sherrill would be a nasty pick up for my Red Sox who need some setup. Delcarmen can be streaky, but eventually will be great. Okajima has to figure out the OkiDoki to regain form.

If Manny really did take an at-bat off (as Lobel suggests in his comments), I wouldn't be at all surprised to see the Sox ship him elsewhere before the trade deadline. They did it with Nomar in 2004 and that worked out well so this is not unprecedented. To make it interesting, I'll throw out the names Michael Bowden, Craig Hansen and Brandon Moss along with Manny to the Rockies for Holliday and Fuentes. Thoughts?

I won't argue whether the prospect of shipping Manny out is realistic or not, but definitely not to the Rockies. It only makes sense to send him to a contender that needs OF/DH help. The Mets are a good example.

1. Manny isn't going anywhere before the deadline.

2. Manny didn't take an at bat off, anyone watching that game knows Mo threw an inside cutter to start him off (tough pitch) and then if you watch the replay the last 2 pitches were just off the outside corner (and could've possibly been looking for that inside pitch again on strike 3). And it's not like Mo is a chump either, there are plenty of guys who've gone 3 and out against him.

Besides, this is coming from a Boston reporter who was fiorced out of his position, mostly because he's a raging alchoholic. He has no evidence or proof to any of his claims. He's a guy desperate for one last chance at seeing his name in the papers and online and doesn't care if he brings Manny down with him.

DeJesus is a guy I could definitely see being dealt. This guy is having a great year and it's been mostly under the radar. He'd fit right in on a contending team.

No way they deal Meche. He chose KC of all of his suitors during his FAcy. He's a good fit there and is cheap vs. market value.

As far as Manny goes...err doesn't go...he's not getting traded. The Sox aren't going to deal him to a contender and what non-contender would pay $10MM for half a season of Manny?

its hard to ship a manny rameriz type hitter, even without mannys sometimes stupid behavior. he did the same thing chacon did, assaulted a team employee, and what happens, even says manny being manny and chacon is banished from baseball. manny has skill and will be back, hes just trying to scare management into doing what he wants.

Wait a minute, wait a minute, hang on: BRIAN ROBERTS IS AVAILABLE?!?!10101

cmac i would do that trade. thats smart its gonna help both teams BUT, the rockies want some1 they can have longer than holliday. maybe if we eat ramirez salary for the following years option it could happen but thats highly unlikely. as much as i would like to see that deal happen i dont think it will. i wonder if the sox go out and make a trade for roberts would pedrioa be able to make the switch back to shortstop?

would Boston really be willing to trade Manny Ramirez and eat his salary all while watching him tear it up at his new team? mmm, not likely.

"the rockies want some1 they can have longer than holliday."

That's why I said the Red Sox would add Moss (a young OF), Bowden (a rising SP) and Hansen (a first-round pick who needs to get out of the pressure of pitching in Red Sox Nation to be successful).

"would Boston really be willing to trade Manny Ramirez and eat his salary all while watching him tear it up at his new team?"

Who said anything about the Sox eating salary? And if you have watched Manny over the last few years, it's pretty clear that his bat speed is slowing down and that he is not the masher he once was, at least not as consistently as in the past. I'm not pining for the days when he drove in 140 or even 120, but I doubt he gets to 100 RBI this season. He's just not the same player he was when he signed the deal eight years ago, not that that's a bad thing. He's eight years older and has been worth the price of admission for most of his time in Boston. I'm just thinking it might be time to move on from the Manny Being Manny era and my deal addresses the bullpen problems and plugs a guy in to LF who will put up some big numbers, especially with Ellsbury, Pedroia, Papi, Lowell and Youkilis batting around him.

As an alternative, I talked about the Sox bringing in Sherrill a few weeks ago but I still wonder if they'd trade him in the division. I would think Francona likes him even more after seeing him get 7 outs in the All-Star Game on Tuesday night.

Gmac says, "maybe if we eat ramirez salary for the following years option it could happen but thats highly unlikely." though it's speculation, i took it as fact. would the Rox have to eat salary to feed Manny to the Rockies? I simply don't know. Chime in if you do!

I could definitely see why defending Manny is a losing-cause in Boston. I could also see why you'd want to trade him out, but as I asked before, would Boston actually do it if it came down to it?

George Sherill is the man. I remember watching him on the field when I was younger. He really does look like a Sheriff. As for the Sox's need for relief, what would they think about Arthur Rhodes?

Cmac-

Bowden, Hansen, Moss, AND Manny for Holliday and Fuentes?

Why don't the Red Sox just throw in Papelbon too?

I like the idea of adding Holliday, but that price tag is far too much for him. He's a great player, but his numbers are inflated due to playing in Colorado... just take a look at his home and away splits.

The Red Sox do need to look pass the Manny era, and I assume they are... but I don't think $20 mil for the production that he's still putting up is too big of a price tag. I'd hate to see him return to his hometown Yankees.

I like the Sherrill addition. The bullpen needs help. It would take some pressure off of Okajima and Delcarmen, and the in turn would probably perform better. I'm not exactly sure what Sherrill would cost though.

"Why don't the Red Sox just throw in Papelbon too?

I like the idea of adding Holliday, but that price tag is far too much for him. He's a great player, but his numbers are inflated due to playing in Colorado... just take a look at his home and away splits."

Who do you think the Rockies will take for their two top trading chips? Kevin Cash, Mike Timlin and Javier Lopez? I'm just trying to be a bit more realistic than most Sox fans tend to be. It's going to take a lot to get a lot. Remember when the Sox traded Hanley Ramirez and Anibal Sanchez for Beckett and Mike Lowell and we all sh*t a brick because the Sox gave up two top prospects? I'd say it worked out pretty well with a World Series title in 2007. I would just hate to see the Sox grow old together, not that I expect Theo will let that happen. He let Pedro, D-Lowe and Cabrera walk after 2004 and Damon the next year and I don't think you can quibble with those choices either, despite the revolving door at SS. The Sox can afford to trade guys like Bowden and Moss and Hansen because of the incredible depth they have built up in the farm system over the past few years. Do they miss Kason Gabbard? Yes, David Murphy is putting up good numbers in Texas but on the Red Sox, he would be the fifth outfielder like Moss is now. As for the home-road splits with Matt Holliday, give him 81 games at Fenway with Papi, Lowell and Youk batting around him and I think he'll hit OK.

"I don't think $20 mil for the production that he's still putting up is too big of a price tag. I'd hate to see him return to his hometown Yankees."

Manny is the second-highest paid hitter in baseball. I'd hardly say he's living up to his paycheck at this point in his career. As much as I hate A-Rod, at least the man keeps putting up the numbers in the regular season. We all are afraid to say Manny is on the decline, but he is, as is the captain, who I also think is in his final days with the Sox. I personally hope the Yankees shell out $100 mil to bring Manny home next season. Sure, he may have a great first year, but please tell me you don't expect another four years of Hall of Fame production from him. The Sox are as cold-blooded as they come when it comes to player transactions. Maybe that's the reason they've won two World Series in the past four years after not winning one in the previous 86. OK, they have made some bad moves, like four years at big money for Lugo, but overall their fans have to be happy with what they've done.

Please Please Please give up on the idea of Manny being traded, esp. in a deal for Matt Holliday. It's simply not going to happen. First, this whole situation is being blown out of proportion by a drunk reporter who doesn't have a job anymore. Second, it's one at bat in one game. The Red Sox are not going to make a snap decision to trade Manny based on one at bat when he's been one of the most consistent and dangerous sluggers of all time.

After the season, Manny might not be back. But he's going NOWHERE before the trade deadline. He's started to pick it up lately and seems to have gotten over the slump he was in and he's catching up to that fastball he was struggling with.

I can only hope that Manny's option gets picked up, but honestly I would hope NY is a no fly zone for Manny.

I think one reasonable prospect with a mid lvl would be good to pick up Sherril. I mean if the prospect were real decent then maybe straight up.