Possible Manny Destinations

I think the Braves would be an interesting option, but they'd have to try and sign only one FA starter outside of Smoltz and/or Glavine if they're in a $45M spending range, since Manny will cost $18M probably.

The Jays would have to move Overbay to have room for Manny, as then Manny could DH and Lind could play 1st.

I think it makes the most sense for the Dodgers to resign him, but I'd certainly try to dump Pierre's contract off somewhere if I did hang onto Manny.

How can any team seriously give this guy a long-term (I'm thinking 3 or more yrs) deal after everything he did in Boston? His annual "I want to be traded" antics, along with the latest episode of him laying down for the Sox show he has no loyalty whatsoever. Who's to say he wouldn't do the same thing in baseball/media crazy cities like Philly or NY once he decided he didn't like it there like he did in Boston. Obviously $20m per season wasn't enough for Manny to commit 100% to the team, so what would it take? I wouldn't sign him for any longer than 2 years and it would be great karma if he only got 1 (eventhough it'll never happen). I was always a huge Manny supporter, but what he did this year was embarrasing and pathetic.

Oh and where he goes? I dunno, Yankees might be interested if he goes for a 2 year deal. Money talks.

The thought of Manny in Philly scares the crap out of me, but it makes too much sense. Its a small LF, so his defense won't hamstring you and the place is a hitter's paradise.

A line-up with:
J-Ro
Utley
Howard
Manny

Now that is just death and destruction.

While it's quite a long shot, I think Manny signing in Toronto would make a lot of sense. With Burnett almost certainly walking, they've got some cash to play with, and could put together a competitive offer. Dropping Manny into the heart of that order would instantly turn it from above-average to fearsome - imagine what batting in front of Manny would do for Rios. Besides, like Manny wouldn't love to play Boston fourteen times a season.

Whatever. You just can't handle the fact your team manipulates your fairweather fanbase into hating its most storied players that brought them so much success. Now that I think about it, it's been going on forever. They drove off Clemens and Boggs too.

I'd hate to see what they'd do to Ted Williams or Carl Yastrzemski today.

"I have to hand it to them, they have a Goebbels-like ability to convince their followers what to believe, I mean they've had Red Sox Nation turn on guys like Manny, Pedro, and NOMAH."

First of all, the way you speak already means you don't have a reasonable response to anything about the Red Sox. Second, the nazi reference is entirely unwarranted and incredibly insulting.

Now as for the fans turning on players. 1) The NOMAH case, if you look back at the time, a good chunk of Red Sox Nation was almost in an uproar, I couldn't turn on a Boston radio station without hearing some fan crying they were now Cubs fans. The truth was the previous offseason the Red Sox front office offered Nomar a pretty fair deal for a long term contract, Nomar turned it down thinking he could wait and get something more Jeter-esqe. It wasn't until the success of the deal did people stop complaining, the actual "turning" on Nomah evolved out of him being constantly injured and now most people look at him and shake their heads thinking how far he's fallen. 2) Pedro. The real issue here was Pedro wanted 4 years, Theo thought he was worth 3. Red Sox fans didn't turn on him, the front office did. Besides Red Sox fans agreeing not trying to out do the Mets was a good thing, I have yet to hear a bad word said about Pedro as a Red Sox. 3) Manny. Red Sox fans tend to agree, we're amicable with the divorce. The reason we "turned" on Manny is the antics which immediately lead up to the trade. Manny couldn't remember which knee was injured. He was trying to hold the offense hostage during a title race.

I meant more than 3 years with a team option for a 4th sounds ridiculous for Manny.

There are a lot of teams that could use a slugging LF/DH type. Money just limits a lot of the teams, although under the right parameters, things could get interesting/worked out.

"Whatever. You just can't handle the fact your team manipulates your fairweather fanbase into hating its most storied players that brought them so much success."

And you don't know a damn thing about Red Sox fans besides the occasional obnoxious person who comes out with ridiculous ideas. But the fact that most people here tend to forget is EVERY fan base has obnoxious idiots. Yes, divorces of Red Sox and stars rarely goes well, but the real Red Sox fans are traditionalists and remember what the players had done. As I said, players like Pedro and Nomar are remembered for their glory days. As for Manny, well let me digress and say people like you were the ones who bashed Manny's antics prior to the trade. Now that he's not a Red Sox you defend him, seems like a double standard to me. Let a year go by for us to have our grudges (and of course he can't sign with the yanks). Players like Boggs are still remember in Boston, hell even Buckner is respectfully remember as the man who got us to the world series in the first place. The reason Clemens is despised in Boston has nothing to do with Duquette driving him away and everything to do with him being a yankee.

Manny was sent out of Boston for the same reason Nomar was, the Sox front office had no confidence in either of them to play and contribute for September and the playoffs. It's why the Sox settled for two guys hitting .250 (Cabrera and Mientikiewicz) and why they got a guy in Jason Bay who was a lesser hitter than Ramirez. They needed to get something in return, because Manny and Nomar couldn't be counted on in September.

As far as a destination for Manny, I think the Dodgers makes the most sense. Colletti will just dump Andruw Jones or Juan Pierre's contract. Atlanta maybe, but I can't see them shelling out the $20 million plus per year on one player. One of the LA teams or one of the NY teams seems the easiest fit.

I would really love to see Manny in a Braves uni, but I just don't see it w/ Bobby Cox still as manager...

I don't see him wanting to handle the day to day antics that is Manny Ramirez.

The Phillies pushed hard to get Manny in 08, but didn't have the prospects the Dodgers had. Burrell is a Free Agent and his production is lacking this year, finishing with good HR's (33), but just 85 RBI's and a .250 average to go with it.

I say the Phillies say goodbye to Burrell and hello to Manny!

The Phillies are 2 straight NL East Champions, have a great hitters park, and have sell out crowds on almost every night... The fans will LOVE Manny, not Boo him.

Yes, think of the Line-up!

Rollins (ss) 11 HR 47 SB
Utley (2b) 33 HR 104 RBI
Werth (RF) 24 HR 20 SB
Howard 1(1b) 48 HR 146 RBI
Ramirez (LF) 37 HR 121 RBI
Victorino (CF) 14 HR 36 SB
Feliz/Dobbs (3b)23 HR 98 RBI
Coste/Ruiz (c) 13 HR 67 RBI

The Phillies I think need a better catcher than Ruiz, and another starter too, but other than that - we are set on winning the NL EAST for years to come!! World Series is next!

Let's not forget, Manny is a Boras client. If Manny wants the $, Boras will wait until he gets Teixiera signed and then bid Manny off as a reasonable alternative. For all the justifiable complaints in this thread about "playing out contracts" and Manny's "antics", it will cost a team 4 years and $80-$100 million to sign him.

for those of you who say manny would hurt our defense in philly.... pat burrell gets pulled in the 6th or 7th every game for defense... we're winning with the same player, but less productive...

how good would everyone's number be with a full year of Manny between Utley and Howard...

another middle rotation starter and replacement / upgrade of Flash Gordon and we'll be ahead of the Cubs...

If the Reds were willing to spend big on a free agent, I think it would behoove them to go after Rafael Furcal rather than Ramirez. They already have some power in the middle of the order with Bruce, Votto, Encarnacion and Phillips, but they really are in need of a top of the order hitter. A guy like Furcal who can get on base, steal bases and just wreak havoc at the top of the order would help the guys below him be more productive and would really help the Reds become a more complete offense.

All the talk about Manny to the Braves and the Reds: do you think he can hold up in the OF for 3 more years? He is atrocious as it is now.

The best overall fit seems to be with the Jays so he could rotate in as a DH as well.

Whoever said Manny could go to the Giants should do stand up because him running around in that expansive ballpark would be the best comedy MLB has seen in years.

I think, as others have posted, he fits a need for the Braves, but let's face it; the likelihood of that are very very slim. His production is great but his questionable behavior and lack of defensive ability are both big detractors and seem almost certain to eliminate him from consideration. I mean, if as rumored, Boby Cox does not allow clubhouse distractions and could not even deal with Kenny Lofton's attitude, I seriously doubt Manny would even be thought about as a Brave. All this, is of course, my opinion only though. But I jsut don't see it.

Manny to Philly would be a excellent fit. With Jaime Moyers 6.5 million, Tom Gordons' 5.5 million and Pat Burrells' 14. 5 million that should be enough to lure Man Ram to Philly Bank Park. To take that step further the Phillies also might want to revisit trade talks with Colorado. Some might remember during the trade deadline there were talks of a Victorino, J.A. Happ and a couple prospects for Matt Holiday and Brian Fuentes. If all goes to Plan the Phillies would not have the ever so coveted double handed set up men of Fuentes and J.C. Romero, but the savior come back player of the year known as "lights out" Lidge. Not to mention a line-up of

1. Jimmy Rollins
2. Chase Utley
3. Manny Ramirez
4. Ryan Howard
5. Matt Holiday
6. Jayson Werth
7. Pedro Feliz
8. Carlos Ruiz
9. PITCHER

A bench consisting of

Geoff Jenkins
Tadahito iguchi
Eric Bruntlett
Chris Coste
Greg Dobbs
Matt Stairs

As for the rotation a 1 and two punch of the icey cool Cole Hamels and a ever ferocious Brett Myers. Joe Blanton as a solid four, who no doubt will be improved and a ever emerging Kyle Kendrick.

The Positives ... Dude, did you see that line up? and lets not forget that bullpen of Chad Durbin, Ryan Madson, fan favorite Mike Zagurski coming back stonger than before after Tommy John Surgery. Clay Condrey with a solid year

The downside of all of this...
The Phillies would have to increase their payroll to about 110 million and the would still not have a solid number three pitcher. Oh yeah and a seven million dollar long reliever named Adam Eaton competing for innings with Clay Condrey, and of course, the regret of trading away a Ed Wade coveted arm in Gavin Floyd to the White Sox for Freddy Garcia - Floyd, of course, would be the three spot
Only in Philly

I love it boston fans, the guy was the biggest part of your two world championships since 1918, but he is a jerk that just lays up and takes it easy, and is a terrible team player.

This is once again forgetting the fact he is the main reason you have 2 WS rings in 4 years since none since 1918.

As a Dodger fan, i say we resign him 2 years 50 million (do the jason schmidt thing, get him for less years and more money), a deal that i really dont see boras not taking, because it would tie arod at 25 mill a year (pretty sure), and that is the deal he couldnt make last year before arod dumped his ass.

I really hope colletti will resign manny, because he fits in very well here.

"I love it boston fans, the guy was the biggest part of your two world championships since 1918, but he is a jerk that just lays up and takes it easy, and is a terrible team player."

I'm really getting sick of this hating Boston for the sake of hating Boston thing. And did you actually read earlier comments from Red Sox fans? I'll summerize, we're kinda pissed that he engineered his own way out of Boston, BUT at the same time we are incredibly grateful for everything that he was to the franchise. Some of my favorite Sox memories are watching Manny watch anything that looked remotely close to a home run from the batter's box. If he comes back next year to the AL (to any team but the yanks) I guarantee he'll get a standing ovation from the fans.

I'll reiterate this part too because it's the one thing no one can deny. When Manny was a Red Sox, his antics were looked down upon by fans of other teams and Red Sox fans were harassed for valling it "Manny being Manny." Now that he's a Dodger, he's suddenly a freaking alter boy.

Hey AA, remind me of how David Ortiz's season, and how much time he spent away from a bat?

To me, if I remember right, he missed quite a bit of time, and didn't even really come back 100%

Correct me if I'm wrong...

"Manny was actually hitting really well."

I was refering to his refusual to play in a game against the yanks and the reports afterward when Boras supposedly said if Boston dropped his option years Manny wouldn't be a problem. And considering all the scandals that have had Boras's name attached, would anyone be surprised if this was true? Though my choice of words probably could have been better.

"Hey AA, remind me of how David Ortiz's season, and how much time he spent away from a bat?

To me, if I remember right, he missed quite a bit of time, and didn't even really come back 100%

Correct me if I'm wrong..."

You aren't wrong, but you can't look at Manny as a negative producer without first looking at every single other member of the club, seeing that Manny was the top producing hitter on the team.

For all the talk about the Mets, just think about this. If Murphy proves able to play 2B, even at a Dan Uggla level, and posts a line like .300/.375/.450, which he proved this year is not out of the question, and Manny is signed to play LF, this is a really good team. If Manny is playing LF all year for the Mets, I think there is little doubt that they win the division, bullpen woes or not. Sign Manny, sign a couple of lesser name bullpen arms like Brocail and Cruz, bring back Luis Ayala, give Parnell and Kunz a chance at somepoint in 09, and be done with it.

*2008, sorry.

"With Jaime Moyers 6.5 million, Tom Gordons' 5.5 million and Pat Burrells' 14. 5 million that should be enough to lure Man Ram to Philly Bank Park."

Why do you think Moyer will walk... he loves the Phillies and the Phillies love him.

He will resign.

14-10 in 2007
16-7 in 2008

His record against the Marlins and other NL East Rivals dictates he stays put!

Kendrick doesn't seem to have enough to stay in the rotation. But he may be worth trading in a package to get Holliday if we cannot get Manny. Its not like he was ever touted highly like Gavin Floyd was, and look was he did this year for the ChiSox!

Kendrick already has a better record and starters ability to have a good value as a 4th starter, maybe a 3rd in a year or two.

Manny or Holliday in LF next year almost guarentees another NL East Title and a World Series appearance!!!

Ohh yeah, and a replacement for Burrell if we don't re-sign him.. which is an option if we cannot land Manny or Holliday

"Manny or Holliday in LF next year almost guarentees another NL East Title and a World Series appearance!!!"

Really? A slight upgrade in LF gauruntees you a WS appearance when you had to count on a team to collapse in front of you 2 years in a row just to sneak in the playoffs? A team that is moving into a new stadium, coming off two very disapointing seasons, a team that will almost surely make a big splash this offseason? Going to have to do better then that.

As a Phils fan,i'd welcome Manny with open arms...He's definitly the player that would finally get us a World Series.