Manny Ramirez Rumors: Friday

This is alot of smoke screen of BS which no of it is verified much less his agent BorAss.

Though if this does happen this would put the Gaints as the favorites in the West. They would probably unload Winn or Sanchez to get a 2B and free up payroll if they actually sign Man Ram. That is alot IFs to happen to make a rumor into reality.

Gaints
Sign Man Ram

Trade
Gaints
Winn + Sanchez/Cain

Braves
KJ
JoJo
B Jones
Acosta
Parr

But with how this off season has treated the Braves I don't expect anything to happen this good for the Braves.

Though Gaints Have a surplus of pitching and a need for a Big bat and 2B. Could be a good trading partners that benefit both teams

Until he is actually signed by another team, I am going with my gut, he signs with Yankees.

If Boras's own flack says nothing is going on, then we can discount the Denver story from yesterday, correct? Boras, of all people would want to say the opposite if it were true, and even his people are saying that there are no negotiations with the Giants. So, it's all sportswriter and baseball blog smoke.

Bravo,

Giants don't need a 2B. They already have Burriss/Frandsen/Velez competing for that spot. They need a big bat at one of the corner IF positions.

All of this is Manny's own doing.

He quit on the Red Sox - plain and simple. That being the case, what GM in his right mind is going to give him a 3-4 year deal (other than Minaya, who isn't allowed)?

Take the Dodgers offer, Manny. That's the best it's going to get for you.

You'd think GM's would be smart enuf to not play bidding war games with Boras anymore. I have a feeling Zito will be the last grand theft contract he drafts for a cliet.

Why is it nobody mentioning the Yankees like how Teixeira went down? I think Yankees carrying too many big contracts on old guys like Damon and Matsui to do anything there, but who knows.

tolo316: 927 OPS in his final half season is "quitting" on the team now? He had a bad May but still murdered pitching every other month. Manny didnt "quit on the team" ever, youre just buying into egotistical journalists trying to create stories and drama.

The Juice: the Giants obviously cant play 5 OFers at once. Scheirholtz is too good to not be starting somewhere and Winn or Lewis need to be traded because having both those guys on the bench is just silly, especially with glaring holes at 3B, 2B and bullpen. Brian Wilson was kind of awful last year despite having 40+ saves (which is a dumb stat), those 3 guys could net the Giants some pretty sweet bullpen help, dont you think?

I feel as though he would be a great fit for the San Francisco Giants but until he signs with them my gut is telling me the Yankees are going to jump in and grab him (like what they did with Teixeira) A signing of Manny to the Giants would be better for baseball because (assuming he goes to the New York Yankees) then the argument really would arise that baseball needs a salary cap.

This would be a great move by the Giants to sign Manny. They already have a very good pitching staff and adding a center piece to their offense would make them a playoff team in a weak NL West. This would mean the Dodgers wouldn't get Manny back and other than the Diamondbacks they really wouldn't have a big competition in the division.

Gleb,

Change Velez with either Burriss or Frandsen and you have the roster. Velez will be lucky to be the 8th inning pinch runner.

IMO - Burriss to 2B and Frandsen to Utility.

manny doesn't care about winning. he cares about himself and that's it

Chris,

Nice HOMER comments...

If Giants sign Manny, they will win the West hands down. If you think the Dodgers are the same team as last year, you are smokin' some serious crack!

You can't lose Lowe / Penny / Beimel / Broxton / Kent and maybe Manny and expect to still be competitive.

Who's gonna protect manny on the giants? Rowand? Just walk the dude every time.

Hey Christhedodgersfan,

Or he could think.. I can play with a team with a good rotation, or I could play with Billingsley, Kershaw, Kuroda and only God knows who else..

The Dodgers won the division with only 6 games above .500 so don't go off saying they are a World Series team. The Giants have made by far the most moves in the National League and are by no means done. If we get Manny and Crede, what kind of idiot would pick against them in the west, oh yea those idiots called "dodger fans".

You can't lose Lowe / Penny / Beimel / Broxton / Kent and maybe Manny and expect to still be competitive.

Posted by: 55saveslives

Kent and Penny were pretty much out the entire year.

Broxton isnt going anywhere. Nice job talkin out of your @ss.

HMMM, so you think minus Manny, this team will do anything?? Maybe you should check their PRE-Manny record.

"HMMM, so you think minus Manny, this team will do anything?? Maybe you should check their PRE-Manny record."

I believe they were at .500 when they got him, and they finished 6 games above. It also helped that Lowe and Billingsley were pitching much better towards the end of the year, and they had someone actually producing at 3rd base.

"Ned,

Same can be said for Dodgers...Loney/Eithier/Martin aren't exactly power bats. Sandoval/Molina/Ishikawa are = to with a slight drop in HR's."

We already saw what Ethier can do with Manny hit next to him, and I doubt anyone on the Giants will come close to matching that.

"You can't lose Lowe / Penny / Beimel / Broxton / Kent and maybe Manny and expect to still be competitive."

Penny sucked and was out most of the year. Kent sucked most of the year and missed a lot of it. Beimel is extremely overrated. Broxton isn't going anywhere. The loss of Lowe is huge though.

The Dogs didn't lose Broxton but they appear to have lost Saito. Their rotation has some holes and none of their youngsters have broken out as true stars except for Martin. Only a few teams are locks for the post season and that is because they have the depth to take a few hits and keep going. Boston basically gave away Manny and was still a very good team. The Dogs will be the 08 Rockies if they have any kind of injuries to Brox or the rotation...

"If you think the Dodgers are the same team as last year, you are smokin' some serious crack!

You can't lose Lowe / Penny / Beimel / Broxton / Kent and maybe Manny and expect to still be competitive."

You obviously are completly unaware of what happened last season. Penny hurt us more than helped us, Beimel put up good numbers but was not effective in his role, and Broxton is not going anywhere (in fact he will most likely be the closer this year). Lowe is the only real loss (and this is a real loss to the Dodgers).

What you have to keep in mind is that the Dodgers have three prospects breaking into the majors last year and this year with ace potential--Kershaw, McDonald, and Elbert. I know that it is difficult for Giant fans to understand what it means to have a great prospect (aside from Lincecum). You guys are raving about losers like Velez who is a complete joke. The dodgers will still sign at least one more pitcher (sheets, pettitte, perez, garland, or wolf) and a power bat. The production from a more comfortable Bills and Kershaw should account for the majority of Lowe's production, not to mention a full year of Elbert and McDonald (McDonld was lights out as a reliever).

Additionaly, this is an obvious effort set forth by Boras & Co. to attempt to put pressure on the Dodgers. The giants were not in (at least not reasonably in) on any other big name FAs this year. They had a supposed offer to CC but that was it. Sure is a coincidence that the Dodgers arch rivals are all of a sudden in on Manny when there was not talk of this before. Keep wishing Giant fans, you'll still be a sub .500 team for years to come!

They clearly need Manny, but with a healthy furcal is something they didnt have last season.

Still doesnt change the other players you listed as being non factors.

"What you have to keep in mind is that the Dodgers have three prospects breaking into the majors last year and this year with ace potential--Kershaw, McDonald, and Elbert."

That made me laugh.

cutemeibleedblue do a quick search using teh google on your internetz machine for a couple names. Then try to say with a straight face how Giants fans feel without any prospects? The future sure is bright if you are a Giants fan.

1. SP Madison Bumgarner
2. C Buster Posey
3. SP Tim Alderson
4. 1B Angel Villalona

Dang, Dodger fans are like wannabe gangstas...

You have a conversation with one, and 30 jump into the fray...lol

Ned, Ok I mistakenly put Broxton instead of Saito.

Cut - Who has been talking up Velez? He is FAR down the line at 2B behind Burriss and Frandsen. Yes we have Lincecum and Cain and Pablo Sandoval. You are speculating that 3 pitchers have POTENTIAL to be aces. Long way from BEING aces.

Let's get this straight, MANNY OR NOT, THE NL WEST WINNER WILL STILL SUCK, BUT WIN THE WEST BECAUSE THE REST SUCK MORE!

If the Giants sign Manny, they are the clear favorite to win. This was said on MLB Network last night during their Hot Stove Report.

If Dodgers get Manny, then THEY will be the winner!

RELAX dodger fans...NO TEAM from the West is doing anything major this year Manny or No Manny.

Despite what Heyman says, the Yankees are ALWAYS on the periphery. Isn't that how they ended up with Teixeira?

Now the Dodgers are going to get Sheets AND Pettite???

I guess if we are going to speculate that much, Giants are going to get Manny, Crede in World Series form, AND Burrell with bionic speed!

:)

I always assume that Brian Sabean is just "kicking the tires". That being said when he comes back with a 3/$75 million deal with Manny I'm going to cry myself to sleep tonight. I don't want that cancer on my team. The Giants should stand pat for the rest of the year. They have some things to work out at 3B and 1B and already have too many outfielders making too much money. Crede would move Sandoval to 1B/C which takes ABs away from Ishikawa/Phelps and Molina. Personally I think the Giants should deal Molina and sign Crede but its not going to happen. If the Giants can get rid of Rowand, Winn or Roberts then I would love taking on Manny for 2/$50 million. Frankly I think its pretty clear that the Giants are driving up the price for Manny and trying to get Crede cheap because they don't like Renteria's range to his right.

Manny will go to who ever pays him most. It might be the Nationals for all we know. They are the second saddest franchise behind the Dodgers.

"Manny will go to who ever pays him most. It might be the Nationals for all we know. They are the second saddest franchise behind the Dodgers."

Nice class dude...And Giant fans wonder why we hate them....

"As far as Sheets goes, I'm afraid you are right. I don't think that Colletti will even put a bid in, but he should. Sheets will have to sign a short term incentive laden contract. He has a huge upside and is worth the risk. Sheets, Bills, and Kershaw at the top of the rotation for the next 2-3 years sounds great to me."

Sounds good to me too... If he does put a bid in, he better be damn sure his arm is healed... I can't handle another Schmidt...

This is why Sheets has to accept a short term incentive laden contract.

Mos Def. 2 years maximum with incentives for 175 innings and 200 innings....

And you took Jason-My-Arm-Is-Falling-Off Schmitt from your rivals for more $$$... WOW

awl,

agreed, the Dodgers have made some bad signings (although I fail to see how Pierre is "an aging speedster" at 31). Does that really make them the worst franchise in baseball? Every team in baseball has made some terrible signings (look at the Mets, BoSox, etc.) I am not picking on these teams, I am just pointing out that every team has made deals that they regretted later.

As far as winning the worst division in baseball, If I remember correctly the NL central was the biggest laughing stock in baseball a few years ago, including 2006 when the cards limped into the playoffs and won the WS. Does that make them a "horrible franchise?" I don't think so. I am not even going to run through all of the reasons why the Dodgers are not a horrible franchise, but if you want to base your opinion on these factors, then your team falls into a very similar category. You are very short sighted and do not have much of an argument.

Cutmeibleedblue, still at it bud haha? Well I would agree on pretty much all the points you make, although I would like at some point for McDonald to get some starts here and there, just to keep his mindset fresh on how to start and not get too into a bullpen oriented mind.

Plus, it looks like we are saving $12million in payroll with the whole Andruw Jones' contract being re-worked (bloody brilliant if you ask me). So actually, contrary to what some may think, the Dodgers FISCALLY could handle contracts from Manny, Pettitte AND Sheets now with Jones on the move out. Before we had about $40-45 million to work with, which translates to adding Manny ($20-25 million) and a pitcher like Pettitte ($10-13 million), and getting Saito back ($1.5-2 million*). Now with around $50-57 to mess with, we can even pursue another pitcher and add TWO starters rather than just one. Will Colletti do that? I don't think he would. But you can bet that there would be more than enough revenue generated to cover the contracts if Manny, Pettite, Saito, and Sheets/Wolf are signed. Wolf-pack merchandise, Pettitte's veteran poise and postseason swagger, Mannywood/Manny wigs/Manny this/Manny that merchandise, plus the 5,000 extra bodies Manny brings in (actually a fairly accurate number of the average number of extra people come to the ballpark to see a player of Manny's caliber), and much more. Yeah, if McCourt is "running a business" - which sucks - these would make sense and fit into fiscal plans.

MrBlake,

Hello again. Hope you had a nice New Year's Eve!

I can't agree more. We have the money now, but Colletti and McCourt will probably still go with the original plan (sign Manny, one starter fromt the list you mention, and Saito). It is sad that the Dodgers have this opportunity and will most likely pass it up for "business reasons."

Hell, as soon as we get rid of Jones we'll be 10 times better!

"Know the perfect counter move for the dodgers if the giants sign manny

Barrywood! lol"

No.

Realizing that mistaking a one-sentence rumor for a "story" has become a cottage industry on the Internet...and enjoying baseball-talk as much as anybody...we should all keep in mind that Giants' GM Brian Sabean plays things closer to the vest than any GM I can think of -- particularly on a club that might want Ramirez.
If anybody with Sabean let word leak ... they wouldn't work for him for very long.

Dennis O'Donnell at KPIX couldn't be a less credible Bay Area media source. Honest. He's a sports anchorman. Period. If he knew something, the media people at the SF Chronicle, San Jose Mercury News, etc. would know, too. They aren't reporting anything.

Sabean said over and over that the Giants would look into free agents they found affordable, etc. I would guess that Manny's more affordable today than he was a month ago...he'd attract fans and ... the Giants did sign and re-sign Bonds when nobody thought they'd come up with the money to keep him.

This "rumor" is overblown, but the Giants probably are talking to Ramirez.

LOL..

Dodger fans get so worked up with their hate for the Giants...

BOTTOM LINE:

If Giants sign Manny, they win the West.
If Dodgers sign Manny, they win the West.

MLB Channel stated in the Hot Stove league Giants would win if they got Manny. I'd take their word over anyone here anyday. And let's face it, winning the West isn't saying much!

Cut -

I'm saying, I would believe them before ANYONE here.

Giants are far better on paper now than they were at the beginning of last season.

1. All the old guys are now gone with the exception of Randy Johnson. He is hardly a bad signing.

2. Giants rotation 1-5. Johnson > Correia and Sanchez now has a clearly defined role. He tired out last season because before that, he was moved between the pen and starting.

3. Pablo Sandoval - Emerged HUGE after being called up and getting full playing time.

4. The bullpen - long been our trouble spot.
Romo - Late call up who did well.
Hinshaw - same
Taschner - still sucks. our weak spot.
Howry - unknown
Affeldt - dominated in hitters parks.
Wilson - All Star last year with another year learning from Robb Nen.

I know it seems nuts, but what if the Giants sign Manny to play LF, and bring back Bonds and give him 1B for a year. They could contend for a WS in the NL West. Even if you had to stick Bonds or Manny in RF (yikes, I know) you could get some serious production out of those two. But picture Bonds playing 1B next year with ManRam in LF.

RF Winn
SS Renteria
LF Manny
1B Bonds
C Molina
CF Rowand
3B Sandoval
2B Burriss?

Lincecum
Cain
Sanchez
Zito
Lowry

Seems like a legit team, especially in the NLW, no?

55,

True most of the old guys who had baggage are gone, but are the younger guys truly going to perform leaps and bounds better? Your 1B options aren't exactly eye-popping (Bowker, Ishikawa, etc), neither is 2B (Burriss, Velez, etc). SS is an improvement with Renteria to be sure, but you might miss Vizquel's defense at times. The OF is still...average. Rowand has proved his power numbers were a result of hitting in hitter's parks, and Winn will continue to be pretty good, but nothing special (Kemp and Ethier easily match his production numbers apiece).

Then there is Sandoval. I should warn you that while his performance was great last year, that does NOT mean he will put up numbers like that year in and year out. Look at Matt Kemp and James Loney's 2007 2nd half campaign. Terrific numbers, but that was because pitchers were still not giving them the whole nine-yards in terms of their repertoire. His stats will dip this year. Though I will agree that what he has done is his ceiling, just as what Matt Kemp and James Loney did in 2007 is their ceiling.

As for your rotation, it is better, I think everyone here agrees that as is the Giants have a better rotation. But it isn't so far ahead that it is silly. I think that is something else we can all agree on.

Then there is your bullpen. Romo indeed looks promising and has the minor league stats to back it up. Hinshaw, is good but needs to get his walk numbers WAYYYYYY down. Howry won't be good - trust me. Affeldt is good but he is in no way better than Kuo. Kuo is leaps and bounds better than him.

Then there is Wilson. How Giants fans still perceive him as GREAT is beyond me. Sure the guy throws 100MPH. Sure he has a K/9 almost at 10 this last season (9.7). But his WHIP was WAY too high (1.44), he had less than a 2:1 K-BB ratio, and had a .269 OBA, plus righties hit .320 off of him. THAT is not what you want to see in a closer.

And Big Jonny B is just leaps and bounds better with the same stuff (96-100MPH fastball, heavy hard slider, and splitter). His ERA was 3.13 - a little higher but still 1.5 better than Wilson. His WHIP was 1.17. He had a 11.5K's per 9 innings, and almost a 3:1 K-BB ratio, and opposing hitters hit only .217 against him.

Wilson being an All-Star last year was a fluke. Sorry to be blunt, but a guy with a +4.50 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP, and NOT a K/9 higher than 10, isn't All-Star worthy.

And 55,

We still won the West despite:

1) Penny being out and injured
2) Saito being injured for a good portion of the season.
3) Kent being injured and not producing
4) Schmidt still being injured and wasting space.
5) Furcal being injured for the majority of the season.
6) Jones wasting space in CF and Torre not being smart enough to pull the string sooner on him.

The Dodgers have solved almost all those problems from last year, including retaining Manny. And you want to tell me that the Gianst are EQUAL? Lineup-wise even without Manny the Dodgers are better. They have more power, more speed, more patience and better batting averages.

Plus you can't beat the Dodgers' coaching staff: Torre, Mattingley and Honeycutt.

Cut -

The 82-80 thing goes to you saying the Dodgers are in the thick of it for the past few years while Giants haven't done anything. True the Giants have been bad, but so has the entire NL West including the Dodgers.

In 07 you guys were 82-80 finishing in 4th while we were in last.

In 05 you guys fisished 20 games under .500 in 4th place. We finished in 3rd still far back.

In 04 you guys won the division 2 games ahead of us.

In 06 and 08 you were the better team.

I don't understand your argument that you are that much better than us. In fact, we had a better head to head record against you guys last season POST Manny.

NL West is an open race between Dodgers / Giants / Dbacks, but Dback lost too many and haven't done anything about it, so IMO it's between Giants / Dodgers with whoever gets Manny winning.

I agree I think the D-Backs, if they can address their bullpen problems, will probably be right in the thick of it again. They have a solid rotation, and a terrific young core of players that were just merely inconsistent last year.

They have the most pop in their lineup out of the Giants, Dodgers and themselves.

Alex Hinshaw and Sergio Romo. No one could hit Romo last year. It was almost laughable. Homegrown Giants.

"I fully agree about Wilson, he's good but not an all-star. It is rediculous that each team needs to be represented (which is the only reason he was there) at the All-star game."

Seriously?? We had two all-stars. Timmy and Wilson.

If it were only going to be one rep, it would have been Timmy. Wilson was picked not forced to represent...

Timmy was there but got a hold of some bad Liberty City Pizza... So I guess he was even admitted to hospital night before? I forget

"I love when armchair quarterbacks come with "I know because I Know" answers...

My answers have been "On Paper" and conceding the Dodgers will win with Manny...

Ok Homers...I have to get to work...

Peace Out!!"

This is coming from a guy who believes that whoever gets manny wins the NL West because he heard it on the MLB Network from some commentator. Armchair Quarterback, really? Hey I heard on the MLB Network that Bonds is comming back and this time he will hit 80 homers in a single season (but for some reason his voice is even higher than it used to be. Odd.) Well I guess that settles it the Giants are the best in the West!

Watch out Dodger fans the Giants are commin' to town the MLB Network says so (you know that they are the all-seeing eye in terms of baseball)! Just ask 55saveslives if you are not sure, he is their messenger!

And he has the nerve to call us homers!

"Oh, and more on Giants/Dodgers bullpen talk. The Giants owned Broxton last year. Made him soil himself. On the other note, whenever Wilson got his shot at the doyers, all he do was pump 98-101 by people. He really doesn't like the doyers."

WIN at isolated battle.
FAIL at war.

55,

1) Howry: His ERA, WHIP, OBA, K:BB ratio, velocity, and more has been slowly increasing every year since 2005, and jumped to silly numbers last year. His fastball was down in the low-90's the whole season, the guy going to be 36 this season (hardly a youngster) and you are going to tell me that he is not going to be a bust? Just ask all the Cubs fans what he did for them last year - firestarter, not fireman.

2) Kuo is better than Affeldt. I think you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who would disagree with that statement. I'd hardly call Coors Field a hitter's paradise anymore. As of, I think 2004 or 2005 they added that humidor to keep balls from flying out of the park. The result it is no longer considered a hitter's paradise.

Kuo = 5-3, 80IP, 2.14ERA, 1.01WHIP, 96K's, 21BB's, .204OBA, .202OBA (lefties)
Affeldt = 1-1, 78.1IP, 3.33ERA, 1.31WHIP, 80K, 25BB, .260OBA, .269OBA (lefties)

Not saying Affeldt is bad, but seriously? Did you just compare Hong Chi-Kuo with Jeremy Affeldt? Plus, ERA's can be deceiving both ways. As far as I am concerned, owning a 3.33ERA is lucky if you posted a 1.31WHIP and a .260OBP

3) Wilson. Yes, it is widely known that a guy who throws 100MPH and has control problems, PLUS Tommy John Surgery issues is a BIG PROBLEM. Granted Kuo falls generally in the same category, but he is consider our set-up man, NOT our closer. Who is your backup option if Wilson goes down?

I surely am not putting statements out there "because I know", but I put them out there because that is what the numbers tell me. Are you still telling me that Wilson, at 4.63ERA, 1.41WHIP, less than a 2:1 career K:BB ratio is great?! What? Really?

As for GiantsOverDoyers I said "Romo indeed looks promising and has the minor league stats to back it up. Hinshaw, is good but needs to get his walk numbers WAYYYYYY down." Does that look like I'm saying they are bad? This is to you as well 55. I said only that Howry is not going to be good, and Wilson is overrated because he throws hard, and Affeldt, while good, isn't great.

Oh, on Howry his velocity has been DECREASING every year since 2005.