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Manny Ramirez

Five Teams Have Expressed Interest In Manny

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SATURDAY, 9:24pm: SI.com's Jon Heyman tweets that the Blue Jays are still considering Ramirez. 

FRIDAY, 10:04am: At least five teams have shown some level of interest in Manny Ramirez, according to Enrique Rojas of ESPNDeportes.com (link in Spanish). The Angels, Twins, Rangers, Rays and Blue Jays have asked about Manny, according to Rojas’ source.

Ramirez is training in Arizona and he’s preparing to play defense if necessary. Agent Scott Boras made the case for Manny yesterday, speaking to ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick. Crasnick heard that Ramirez could be a fit in Tampa Bay, but suggested that the Blue Jays are less likely to sign him.

The five clubs mentioned in Rojas' report all appeared on my list of teams with potential interest in designated hitters.

Quick Hits: Pedro, Young, Rays, Thome

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On this date nine years ago, Carlos Pena and Ryan Ludwick were traded for each other. Here are some links on a day that has featured a number of signings, but no trades…

Boras Talks Damon, Andruw, Manny

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Scott Boras told ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick that Johnny Damon, Andruw Jones and Manny Ramirez can boost fan interest, TV ratings and revenue for MLB teams. Not only that, the agent insists his clients can be key players on winning clubs.

"These guys are star players," Boras said. "They're championship-caliber players. Owners and general managers know they have extraordinary abilities, and they can be a force in the locker room and around young players."

Crasnick surveyed MLB executives and scouts about the three stars and heard the Angels and Rays mentioned as possibilities for Damon. The Dodgers, who have also been linked to the 37-year-old, are “unlikely” to sign him, according to a source familiar with the team’s thinking. The Yankees haven’t ruled out a reunion with Damon, but they’re only interested in him as a fourth outfielder, according to Crasnick.

Jones, another Yankees target, “still has value as an extra outfielder who can fill in at all three spots and mash left-handed pitching," an AL assistant GM said. The Braves briefly discussed a reunion with Jones and the Rockies are another possible fit.

Despite speculation that Ramirez could be a fit in Toronto, where former Red Sox coach John Farrell will take over as manager, it isn’t a likely match. In fact, Crasnick suggests Farrell’s familiarity with the slugger could make the Jays less likely to sign Manny. Tampa Bay could be a fit for Ramirez, who definitely wants to play in 2011, according to Boras.

Dodgers Notes: Ownership, Manny, Roman Colon

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It was one year ago today that the Dodgers signed Jay Gibbons to a minor league deal.  Gibbons made it to the big leagues for the first time since 2007, and hit well enough in limited action (an .819 OPS in 80 plate appearances) that he earned himself a Major League deal with the club for 2011 and potentially a regular platoon gig.

Here are some fresh items about the boys in blue…

  • A potential sale of the Dodgers could be worth as much as $1BB, reports Mike Ozanian of Forbes.  One "billionaire" team owner tells Ozanian that the Dodgers have "a vanity premium" for many potential buyers.  Ozanian hears from some owners, executives and sports bankers that the belief exists that Frank McCourt will not be able to raise enough money to keep control of the club.  McCourt, unsurprisingly, thinks otherwise, and said as much to Bill Shaikin of the LA Times.
  • The newly-signed Tony Gwynn Jr. could win the center field job with a strong Spring Training, writes MLB.com's Ken Gurnick.  Such a move would shift Matt Kemp to right field and Andre Ethier to left.  More realistically, however, Kemp and Ethier will stay put in center and right, respectively, and the Dodgers will use a left field platoon of Gibbons and either a yet-to-be-acquired right-handed bat or possibly Casey Blake.
  • If the team does sign another right-handed hitter, it won't be Manny Ramirez.  To the surprise of nobody, Don Mattingly tells Steve Dilbeck of the LA Times "I don’t think Manny is a viable option right now."
  • The Dodgers signed right-hander Roman Colon to a minor league deal, tweets Baseball America's Matthew Eddy.  Colon has been pitching in the Korean League since he was released by Kansas City in May.  The right-hander has a 5.12 ERA in 121 Major League appearances (all but eight of them in relief) with the Royals, Tigers and Braves since 2004.

Olney On Padres, Young, Manny, Branyan

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The Padres like that Brad Hawpe posted a .903 OPS two years ago and is still just 31 years old, writes ESPN.com's Buster Olney. The team's front office is confident in Hawpe's ability to play first, but club execs don't know what they'll get from the longtime Rockie at the plate. Here are the rest of Olney's rumors:

  • Olney suggests a player’s inability to play the field seriously compromises his value, since teams would prefer to have roster flexibility. Though Michael Young may become the Rangers’ regular DH, his ability to play all over the infield is a plus that players like Jim Thome and Vladimir Guerrero cannot offer.
  • Executives wonder “where the heck [Manny] Ramirez is going to land – if anywhere.” As Olney notes, Ramirez has the potential to become a distraction.
  • Russell Branyan can still play first base when healthy, which is why one GM believes he’ll find a job. “He’ll get a shot someplace," the GM said.

Poll: The Designated Hitter Market

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The market for designated hitters has been slow to develop this winter, meaning that a few intriguing veteran bats are still available. When we looked at MLBTR's top 15 remaining free agents this week, three of the top six names were designated hitters, with another likely DH, Johnny Damon, also cracking the list.

Manny Ramirez, Jim Thome, Vladimir Guerrero, and Damon all appear capable of contributing solid offensive production in 2011. Of the four, only Damon had a 2010 OPS below .841, and he still reached base at a .355 clip, right in line with his career rate. Considering their defensive limitations and the fact that they're on the wrong side of 35, it seems unlikely that any of these four will land multiyear deals. While the values may vary, one-year contracts in designated hitter roles appear probable for all four players.

Taking into account that likely variance in salary, here's tonight's poll question: if you were an American League GM in search of a DH, which player would you prefer to add? Who will provide the most bang for your buck in 2011? Ramirez, Thome, Guerrero, and Damon are the most intriguing names out there, but there are also a few under-the-radar DH candidates available, as MLBTR's free agent tracker shows, so be sure to take that into consideration as well.

Odds & Ends: Morse, Pettitte, Miller, Durbin

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Links for Wednesday, four years after the Giants signed Barry Zito to a seven-year, $126MM deal…

Possible Fits For Manny Ramirez

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Agent Scott Boras intends to find Manny Ramirez a one-year deal as a full-time designated hitter for 2011.  ESPN's Keith Law said the slugger has lost bat speed, but "even Reduced Manny has value because he'll get on base at a strong clip and show doubles power, so the only question for suitors is whether they can put up with the injury risk and the potential for drama."  Which teams could fit as suitors as we near January?

  • Orioles: Their plan appears to be to sign a free agent first baseman like Adam LaRoche or Derrek Lee and continue using Luke Scott as the primary designated hitter.  Still, as recently as December 8th the Orioles were open to using Scott at first base and signing a DH.
  • Rays: Manny remains a viable option for Tampa Bay, though they could try Dan Johnson at DH if they bring in a first baseman.
  • Blue Jays: The Jays committed $2.5MM to Edwin Encarnacion as a cheap DH candidate, so despite Manny's affinity for John Farrell and Toronto they are probably set.
  • Royals: Using Kila Ka'aihue at first base and Billy Butler at DH would be a reasonable plan, so there's no need for Manny.
  • Twins: They've still got Jason Kubel and a possible desire to re-sign Jim Thome.
  • Angels: It's hard to see the Angels adding Manny, with Bobby Abreu and Juan Rivera already on the roster.  He doesn't seem like their type of player, either.
  • Rangers: Vladimir Guerrero is still a free agent, so there is an opportunity for Boras to jump in and try to place Manny with Texas.

Teams such as the Blue Jays, Athletics, and Mariners are now off the board for Ramirez, leaving the Rays and Rangers as the two legitimate possible matches.  With Thome, Guerrero, and Johnny Damon still looking for work, the Manny situation could get interesting.  Boras probably won't be able to find more than $5MM for Ramirez, who has little leverage.

Odds & Ends: Webb, Manny, Soriano, CarGo, Prior

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Links for Sunday, as we start the countdown to next Christmas…

Rays Notes: Bullpen, First Base, DH

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The Rays find themselves in a difficult position as the 2011 season approaches. Forced to cut payroll, they've lost Carlos Pena, Carl Crawford, (presumably) Rafael Soriano, and most of their bullpen to free agency, and traded Jason Bartlett as he approaches his final arbitration year.

Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times looks at some of the issues left to be addressed as the Rays begin bargain shopping this offseason:

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