Hudson Passes Physical, Manny Talks Heat Up
Tony Jackson of the L.A. Daily News reports that Orlando Hudson passed his physical, making his one-year deal official. He also notes that Hudson’s base salary is $3MM, with a $380,000 signing bonus and incentives which max out at $4.62MM.
Jackson also has some tantalizing quotes from Dodgers GM Ned Colletti about the Manny Ramirez negotiations. Colletti said that he has had more conversations with Scott Boras "in the past seven days than in the past few months. The conversations are more frequent and longer."
Jackson writes, "it sure sounds like they are getting closer to a deal — not that ‘closer’ means ‘close.’"
Heyman On Bay, Papelbon, Manny, Braves
The latest from SI.com’s Jon Heyman…
- Red Sox GM Theo Epstein says he’s had "casual conversations" about a contract extension with Jason Bay. We learned a few days ago that Bay is open to an extension but doesn’t consider it the "end-all, be-all."
- Jonathan Papelbon says he’s a "gambling man," and he prefers to go year-to-year rather than sign long-term. Boston’s offer was far off his expectations, and he wants to set the market for closers. Papelbon is under team control through 2011, and will earn $6.25MM in his first arb year.
- Heyman says there’s "some indication Dodgers owner Frank McCourt is about to become involved in the Manny Ramirez negotiations." Maybe that’ll get things moving.
- Heyman says the Braves will look at Garret Anderson, Jim Edmonds, and Luis Gonzalez, though ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick has indicated the Braves aren’t interested in the veteran free agents.
- The Orioles’ acquisition of Felix Pie cost Edmonds a chance to sign with the team.
Manny Ramirez Rumors: Friday
What’s Manny Ramirez up to as his peers report to Spring Training? Scott Boras says he’s spending his weekdays working out in Florida, but that a delicious cake like Manny "takes little frosting." Boras also explained to Bob Nightengale of USA Today how the Dodgers will be screwed if they don’t sign his client:
"Manny is now the face of that franchise. So it comes down to a choice of winning or losing. Dodgers fans know what life was like without him. And they know what life was like with him. The truth of the matter is that he makes that much of a difference."
The Dodgers’ one-year, $25MM offer remains on the table.
Manny Ramirez Rumors: Tuesday
3:07pm: A little bit of info from Colletti, by way of Tony Jackson:
Specifically, I asked him if the club has made any offers beyond the two we already know about…He said no more offers had been made. Dylan Hernandez from the Times then asked, "Has there been a counteroffer?’" and Ned said, "Sort of.” He wouldn’t comment beyond that, but it’s clear he was talking about a proposal that was so far out of the Dodgers’ range as to be unrealistic.
On the Giants side, Henry Schulman makes a clarification:
At the end of this post, I write the Giants "are waiting to see what happens," but I am told that they, too, are continuing a dialog with agent Scott Boras on Manny — on the good ‘ol telephone.
9:34am: SI.com’s Jon Heyman talked to Dodgers GM Ned Colletti, who said:
"We continue to talk. I wouldn’t say we’ve made progress. Hopefully, the conversations will lead to progress."
8:13am: A rumor made the rounds last night that Giants president Larry Baer was to meet with Scott Boras and/or Manny Ramirez in San Francisco. Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle checked into it, and it was bogus. They did not meet.
The truth is less exciting:
So calm down, folks. Nothing has changed. The Dodgers and Boras continue to talk, often, while the Giants are waiting to see what happens.
Orlando Hudson Rumors: Tuesday
We learned from Ken Rosenthal earlier today that the Dodgers remain interested in free agent second baseman Orlando Hudson. Rosenthal also said that the Royals like Hudson but don’t have the financial flexibility to fit him in.
SI.com’s Jon Heyman has more on Hudson, learning that Dodgers GM Ned Colletti has "had a conversation or two" with the player’s agent since Adam Dunn signed. Colletti also implied that the Dodgers could afford Hudson and Manny Ramirez, if they choose to pursue both. Heyman adds that the White Sox are not a player for Hudson.
Manny Ramirez Rumors: Monday
8:03pm: As reported by Ken Gurnick of MLB.com, Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp did a bit of campaigning today for Manny:
"I compare him to Kobe Bryant," said Kemp. "He makes everybody around him better. Manny’s the Kobe Bryant of baseball. Of course we want him back and of course we need him. He’s a freak."
2:08pm: Everyone’s getting a bit tired of the Manny Ramirez stuff these days, but we do have an amusing link from yesterday courtesy of MLB.com’s Chris Haft. Haft spoke to Giants reliever Billy Sadler, who spent the offseason working out with Manny. Ramirez apparently picked up Sadler’s tab at Athlete’s Performance in Florida. Sadler had this to say about Manny’s future:
"It was funny. He came in a couple of times and said, ‘Billy, I’m going to be a Giant!’"
Juan Pierre Wants A Starting Job
Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times and Ken Gurnick of MLB.com spoke to Dodgers outfielder Juan Pierre, who is penciled in as the team’s starting left fielder currently. The problem for Pierre is that a Manny Ramirez signing would bump him back into the fourth outfielder job.
Pierre is owed $28.5MM over the next three seasons, so a trade seems nearly impossible. Pierre doesn’t agree though:
"When they want to get rid of guys, they get rid of guys. I’m not saying to go the whole Andruw route, but I wouldn’t say untradeable."
At the end of the season Pierre’s agent suggested a trade might be optimal, and Pierre agreed:
It’s a tough spot for both sides. I think [a trade] would have helped both sides. It would have made sense. But I know the market changed last year. Other teams might not want me. Just be straight with me and I’m cool.
Pierre is done keeping his mouth shut:
"For the betterment of the team last year, I kept my mouth shut and let them play. That said, this year, I don’t want that role again."
Manny Ramirez Rumors: Saturday
According to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com, free agent Manny Ramirez has a locker reserved for him at the Dodgers’ new spring training facility in Glendale, Arizona.
It’s in a corner of the team’s clubhouse, right next to Rafael Furcal. GM Ned Colletti had nothing new to report on the Manny front Saturday, but it’s clear that the club is expecting his arrival at some point this spring.
Manny Ramirez Rumors: Friday
Ken Gurnick of MLB.com spoke with Los Angeles Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti and manager Joe Torre about the Manny Ramirez saga.
Colletti said he speaks regularly with Ramirez’ agent, Scott Boras, about bringing the free agent outfielder back.
“There’s been some progress made, but obviously not enough to consummate a deal,” said Colletti. “We’re both clear on why we stand where we stand. Three months ago, it was guesswork more than anything else.”
Torre spoke directly with Ramirez on Tuesday. “He was his usual upbeat self,” Torre said. “I’ve told him a number of times to do what’s best for his family. He’s admitted he was comfortable playing in L.A. It comes down to satisfying both parties. You like to believe there’s a lot of romance, but he’s looking for length.”
Gurnick believes the Dodgers are ready to wait indefinitely for Ramirez. After all, they didn’t have him last season until July 31.
Ramirez, 37 in May, hit .332/.430/.601 for the Boston Red Sox and Dodgers in 2008.
Manny Ramirez Rumors: Thursday
9:26pm: MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick suggests that the "signings this week of Bobby Abreu and Adam Dunn will be the trigger to bring the Dodgers and Ramirez toward a middle ground."
Gurnick also shares this quote from Giants president Larry Baer, implying that his club is sitting idle on the Manny front: "Nothing’s really changed from our perspective."
4:40pm: Ken Rosenthal offers thoughts on the Dodgers and Manny, as well as Hudson.
3:50pm: Not sure if this qualifies as news, but Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times learned that Ramirez cancelled a promotional appearance because he could sign a contract at any time.
8:48am: Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times has the latest on Manny Ramirez today. Talks continue with the Dodgers, but there’s nothing new to report.
Some had speculated that Bobby Abreu and Adam Dunn were the Dodgers’ backup plan, but Ned Colletti and Scott Boras are both claiming the signings don’t affect the Manny negotiations.
How many teams are in on Ramirez? From Shaikin’s article:
Boras said the other day that he was negotiating with "several" teams for Ramirez. We asked him whether "several" could be defined as "more than two." He chuckled. "Two or more," he said.
Shaikin adds that Orlando Hudson "called the Dodgers, not the other way around." Signing Hudson would mean shuffling around Blake DeWitt and/or Casey Blake. Ken Davidoff of Newsday notes that the Dodgers have pretty much run out of ways to "reallocate their Manny resources."