Manny Quotes
Manny Ramirez gave a few quotes last night after the Dodgers were eliminated:
"I just want to go home and spend some time with my family. I want to see who is the highest bidder. Gas is up and so am I."
Manny on whether he wants to be in L.A.: "We’ll see." Manny asked what he’s worth: "I guess you got to talk to my agent now. I’m a five-tool player. That’s me now." Hmmm…even Boras can’t convince anyone Manny brings speed or defense to the table.
On the high end, a six-year, $150MM deal has been suggested for Ramirez. T.J. Simers suspects owner Frank McCourt would prefer to make a valiant effort and finish second in the bidding. Buster Olney believes the Dodgers are better suited signing C.C. Sabathia.
Six Years For Manny?
5:45pm: SI.com’s Jon Heyman also talked to Boras, and the word "iconic" was used. Uh-oh. Six years, $150MM? Heyman sees the Yankees, Mets, and Blue Jays as suitors aside from the Dodgers.
4:36pm: When the idea of a six-year contract for slugger Manny Ramirez first surfaced (from Manny himself), it was not considered a serious possibility. However, the New York Post’s Joel Sherman had a long conversation with Scott Boras, who strongly hinted that Manny legitimately deserves six years.
Boras points to Barry Bonds and Alex Rodriguez, two iconic players paid to age 42. Boras brushed off the messy Boston exit, referring only to "internal issues that were a concern."
Here’s the thing about Boras: he says or strongly implies a lot of questionable things. Recent examples: 12 years for A-Rod, the Cardinals failing to win the division in ’07 because they didn’t sign Jeff Weaver, and Oliver Perez not being erratic. It’ll be a winter full of amusing Boras rhetoric, with Perez, Joe Crede, Eric Gagne, Felipe Lopez, Derek Lowe, Ivan Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira, and Jason Varitek also eligible for free agency.
Rosenthal’s Latest: Manny, Mussina, Cano, Lowe
Ken Rosenthal’s latest column at FOX Sports is jam-packed with rumors.
- Manny Ramirez will generate plenty of interest on the free agent market; he wants at least four years. There was a report earlier this month that Scott Boras expected to get five years. The term will be a crucial factor. Rosenthal names the Phillies, Mets, and Yankees as three teams that may pursue Manny.
- The Mariners’ rebuilding effort will likely be spearheaded by a first-time GM, not an ideal scenario in the opinion of some baseball people.
- The Dodgers lost Shane Victorino twice in the Rule 5 draft. Tony Jackson had more details on that history a few days ago.
- Rosenthal talked to friends of Mike Mussina who remain convinced he will retire. Buster Olney got a different vibe recently.
- Rosenthal notes that the Dodgers’ interest in Robinson Cano is "sincere," but it’s unknown what they’d give up for him.
- Derek Lowe‘s teammates say he has little interest in playing for the Mets or Yankees.
- Back in ’07, Blake DeWitt was considered a possible throw-in in a proposed Joe Blanton to the Dodgers deal. Rumor was the A’s wanted three frontline prospects from the Dodgers, DeWitt not among them.
Odds and Ends: Hoyer, Denker, Manny
Links for Monday…
- Baseball America ranks the teams by their total draft expenditures. The Royals spent over $11MM, leading the pack.
- SI’s Tom Verducci talked to one "club pitching expert" who considers free agent Chan Ho Park a sleeper starter for next year.
- MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan figures a long-term extension for Josh Hamilton will be a top priority for the Rangers this winter. Sullivan also has a note about Jake Peavy only wanting to go to an NL team, despite the recent article about Peavy being open to three AL clubs.
- Red Sox assistant GM Jed Hoyer turned down a chance to interview for the Mariners job, according to Sean McAdam of the Boston Herald.
- McCovey Chronicles is baffled by the Giants’ decision to let second baseman Travis Denker go.
- Chad Durbin suggests Manny Ramirez charged in aggressively from left field yesterday for show.
- We took a look at Ryan Dempster from a fantasy baseball perspective a few days ago.
Manny Ramirez Notes
A few Manny Ramirez-related links for you today…
- Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News says Ramirez "not-too-seriously" pondered whether he could get a six-year deal. We have seen legitimate reports that Scott Boras wants five years for him.
- Ben Shpigel talked with Manny about the Mets, hinting that they could use a slugger like him next year. Manny kept talking about the ball not carrying well at Shea, even though the Mets won’t be playing there next year.
- Mike Lupica on why the Mets and Yankees should avoid Manny.
Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Greinke, Manny, Burnett
A look at what is being written around the Blogosphere…
- Royals Authority feels it will take a Johan Santana-type deal to trade Zack Greinke this offseason.
- Goat Riders Of The Apocalypse takes an in depth look at the Cubs ’09 roster and what changes could be made.
- Mets Geek (or is it Rays Geek?) thinks the most important move for the Mets this winter is to sign Manny Ramirez, but only for three-years and an option.
- River Ave. Blues agree that Manny should only be signed by the Yankees if it can be done for less than five years.
- MetsBlog calls Orlando Hudson a "must sign" this off-season.
- The Chuck Knoblog doesn’t see how the Yankees can sign two big free agent pitchers and a first baseman and still get the payroll down to $180-185MM.
- Drunk Jays Fans does not see any way A.J. Burnett will return to the Jays next season.
- First And Goal From Second Base wants to see the Twins trade Jason Kubel for a reliever.
Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.
Odds and Ends: Moore, Manny, Hudson
Reading material for Thursday…
- NBC San Diego reports that John Moores plans to sell his 49% of the Padres as part of his divorce settlement.
- Derrick Goold looks at the many teams that might consider Rafael Furcal, including the Cardinals. Imagine the kind of contract he’d be looking at if he’d been healthy all year.
- I did a Q&A with Sox and Pinstripes recently.
- According to Mariners president Chuck Armstrong, the new GM will have less power and a smaller payroll than Bill Bavasi. The list of candidates is down to ten.
- MLB.com’s Dick Kaegel talked to Royals GM Dayton Moore, who wants to add an offensive player (a hitter, not a guy who offends). Moore won’t be moving Joakim Soria to the rotation, though some in the organization support it. Also, MLB Interviews chatted Royals with Joe Posnanski of the Kansas City Star.
- Joel Sherman of the New York Post sees a parallel between Mike Mussina and Jimmy Key. Some Yankees officials expect Mussina to file for free agency to keep his options open.
- In another article, Sherman warns suitors that Manny Ramirez is a "con man."
- ESPN’s Buster Olney runs through possible destinations for Orlando Hudson, including the Mets, White Sox, Indians, and Angels.
- Anthony Marenna of DC Metroblog provides an offseason plan for the Nationals, while Jacob Jackson takes on the A’s at Athletics Nation.
Shapiro Outlines Indians’ Needs
Indians GM Mark Shapiro spoke to the press today. A few notes:
- Shapiro does not feel comfortable with his team’s upper-level starting pitching, which consists of Cliff Lee and Fausto Carmona (and maybe Jake Westbrook when he’s ready). The Indians may have $15MM or so to work with, but Shapiro wouldn’t say whether he’d lean more toward free agency or trades.
- Other needs: closer and infield help. We ran through most of the candidates in the Offseason Outlook. Given the flexibility of Jhonny Peralta and Asdrubal Cabrera, Shapiro could look for help at second or third base.
- Shapiro hinted that Casey Blake could be a good fit back with the Tribe. He won’t be pursuing Manny Ramirez.
Odds and Ends: Hudson, Cano, Mariners GM
Links for Wednesday…
- ESPN’s Jayson Stark reminds us that Manny Ramirez could’ve been traded to the Phillies in July. But the Phils wouldn’t offer Lou Marson, didn’t like the idea of Manny in right field, and were concerned about Ramirez’s hustle.
- Matthew Cerrone of MetsBlog gives his early sense of the team’s offseason approach. He doesn’t seem them splurging on one of the big free agent names.
- MLB.com’s Marty Noble heard Orlando Hudson "yearns to play for the Mets" (hat tip to MetsBlog).
- Jamey Newberg believes in the Rangers’ plan.
- Joel Sherman of the New York Post doesn’t believe Robinson Cano will be traded, because the Yankees are valuing him as if 2008 did not occur. He names Fausto Carmona as an example of a pitcher the Yanks would not accept for Cano.
- Sherman also notes that Bobby Abreu and the ivy-covered brick wall at Wrigley might not be the best match.
- The Mariners will interview five people for their GM vacancy this week: Peter Woodfork (D’Backs), Jerry DiPoto (D’Backs), Tony Bernazard (Mets), Kim Ng (Dodgers), and Tony LaCava (Blue Jays).
- The Angels signed Korean pitcher Jang Pil-Joong, who just finished serving in the army.
- I did a couple of interviews recently: over the phone with MLB Interviews and over email with Pinstripes Published.
Heyman’s Latest: Sabathia, Hardy, Manny
Let’s take a look at Jon Heyman’s column from yesterday.
- The Yankees will go "all in" for C.C. Sabathia. Heyman sees the Dodgers, Mets, and Giants as other possible suitors.
- Heyman dismisses a rumor of J.J. Hardy, Prince Fielder, and another player for Matt Cain.
- He predicts a "feeding frenzy" for Hardy. I’m with Heyman though, I wouldn’t be quick to trade him this winter.
- Heyman talked to a GM who feels the Mets will go after Boras client Manny Ramirez. If the five-year demand is accurate, the list of suitors will probably shrink significantly.
- Manny quote: "I gotta thank Scott for bringing me to L.A." Hmmm.