Headlines

Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Manny Ramirez

Odds and Ends: Indians, Livan, Braves, Friedman

By | at

Let’s round up today’s random links.

Olney On The Free Agent Market

By | at

Buster Olney’s latest below:

  • False Echoes: "the phenomenon of veterans who have quickly descended from productive players into something much less than that over the last couple of years," often from discontinuing PED use.  Olney thinks the industry is not going to throw "long-term dollars" at players in their mid 30s. That in combination with the economy and recent successes of small market clubs spells a bad market for mid-level free agents, according to Olney. If Olney’s right, that’s bad news for guys like Manny Ramirez; however, Manny has shown in L.A. that he can still produce.
  • Overlooking all of that, Olney thinks the Dodgers could land CC Sabathia if they make a nine-figure offer. For a salary-shy team, that would come as a mild surprise.  Olney suggests the Giants would go for Sabathia if not for their massive commitment to Barry Zito.

Odds and Ends: Manny, Pavano, Gonzalez

By | at

Some Saturday mid-day linkage:

Sarah Green writes for UmpBump and the Boston Metro and can be reached here.

Odds and Ends: Kendall, Laird, Giles, Manny

By | at

Today’s linkage…

  • A friend pointed out to me how strange it is that the Twins were willing to take on Jarrod Washburn’s salary and give up Boof Bonser but chose to trade Johan Santana before the season.  If Bill Smith could go back in time, would he still make that deal?
  • A Gary Sheffield acquisition by the Rays is "unlikely but not impossible," according to one Buster Olney source.
  • As expected, Jason Kendall’s option for ’09 vested.  He’s off the list!
  • The Rangers were willing to trade Gerald Laird and a solid prospect to the Marlins for Chris Volstad.
  • The Padres are wavering on Brian Giles’ 2009 option.  Scott Miller also wonders if they’ll be able to take on Trevor Hoffman for another year.
  • Miller says the Marlins had a deal for Manny Ramirez worked out, but the commissioner’s office killed it because the Marlins would’ve been getting draft picks rather than a second player.  Manny would’ve vetoed it anyway.
  • Rob Neyer thinks the Yankees will exceed a $200MM payroll if need be next year.
  • There seems a good chance Randy Johnson pitches next year.
  • Randy Winn and Bengie Molina may be traded this winter.
  • Missed this one from Monday – the White Sox acquired reliever Franklyn German from the Pirates for a player to be named later.

Stark’s Latest: Manny, Fuentes, Livan, Dunn

By | at

ESPN’s Jayson Stark has a new Rumblings and Grumblings column up.

  • Some teams won’t go anywhere near Manny Ramirez given the way he exited Boston.  Opinions range on whether he’ll get two, three, or four years this winter.  Will he turn it off again after signing a long-term deal?  And will other players use the same strategy to escape their contracts?
  • The Rays are likely to stand pat, despite recent injuries.
  • Rockies players haven’t hit the waiver wire yet; Dan O’Dowd plans to wait until month’s end.  Stark wonders whether the Cards could win a claim on Brian Fuentes.  Not likely, given the contenders in front of them in waiver order.
  • All kinds of near-deals in the final minutes on deadline day – John Grabow to the Phillies, Ian Snell to the Rockies, and Jason Bay to the Rays.
  • Livan Hernandez’s incentives get expensive in a hurry once he hits 160 innings, and the Twins are on the hook for those.
  • Stark talked to officials from two teams who didn’t think the Reds would’ve offered Adam Dunn arbitration.

Heyman’s Latest: Washburn, Cashman, Garcia, Lofton

By | at

SI.com’s Jon Heyman checks in with a new column.

  • Jarrod Washburn reportedly cleared waivers, though Heyman’s use of the word "reportedly" makes me think the statement came from one of the shaky reports floating about.  We’ll wait for definitive word on that one.
  • Heyman’s sources say the Yankees plan to offer a new contract to GM Brian Cashman after the season.  Hank Steinbrenner has apparently warmed to Cashman.  Additionally, "club higherups" expect Cashman will want to stay rather than jump to the Seattle job.
  • Heyman loves the Freddy Garcia acquisition; he wonders if Garcia will be motivated by Ozzie Guillen’s comments.  The White Sox weren’t interested; Guillen doesn’t think Garcia will be ready for the playoffs.  There’s a chance Garcia could return to the Tigers in ’09.
  • Heyman says it was a 2-2 vote whether to keep Manny Ramirez in Boston – Theo Epstein and Tom Werner advocating a trade, and Larry Lucchino and John Henry preferring to keep him.  Henry changed his mind and the deal was made.  Lucchino recently denied Heyman’s speculation that he might leave after the season.
  • The Rays made an offer to Kenny Lofton in spring and even gave Barry Bonds consideration.  But now a signing of either is "highly unlikely."  Giants GM Brian Sabean thinks the Rays should sign Bonds.
  • Heyman continues to speculate that Jim Bowden could be fired.
  • One GM expects the Padres to pick up Brian Giles’ $9MM option for ’09.  It’s an easy decision since it has a $3MM buyout.  However, Peter Gammons says it will be declined.

Gammons Chat: Lucchino, Lugo, Manny

By | at

The Boston Globe has a Peter Gammons chat transcript up on its blog.  Let’s take a look at his nuggets of rumor wisdom.

  • Gammons heard from someone close to Larry Lucchino that the Red Sox would not let him leave.
  • The Red Sox could try to unload Julio Lugo in the offseason, or convince him to accept a super-utility role.
  • Gammons says neither Hank Steinbrenner nor Brian Cashman have any interest in Manny Ramirez as a winter signing.  He expects the Yankees to chase C.C. Sabathia.
  • Manny apparently wants four years and $100MM, but Gammons expects something more in the three years, low $40MM range.
  • The Red Sox have been looking for a young catcher, and Gammons guesses that Jarrod Saltalamacchia or Mike Napoli could be targets.  Evan Grant suggested today that the Rangers may prefer to deal Salty and keep Gerald Laird.

Odds and Ends: Ibanez, Dunn, Blake, Stewart

By | at

Let’s kick off the morning with some random links.

Heyman’s Latest: Lucchino, Manny, Rangers

By | at

I wanted to let the Dunn trade cool off a bit before diving into Jon Heyman’s latest.

  • Heyman "people in high places in baseball" who believe Red Sox president/CEO Larry Lucchino might leave after the season, possibly for the Dodgers.  He’s still butting heads with Theo Epstein apparently.
  • Heyman doesn’t buy the idea that Scott Boras orchestrated Manny Ramirez’s departure from Boston.  He also doesn’t buy the idea of Ramirez playing in New York.
  • Nolan Ryan would like Tom Hicks to sell the Rangers to him, but Hicks has shown no willingness to do so.
  • Players such as George Sherrill, Brian Fuentes, and Raul Ibanez are not expected to clear waivers.  No surprise there.

Odds and Ends: Kielty, Ellis, Bonds, Poreda

By | at

Time to for today’s link collection.

Show all

MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

hide arrows scroll to top