Angels out of the Manny race
Just as I finished typing in the previous thread that I couldn't see -- despite BK's thoughts otherwise -- the Angels making a hard push for Manny, Mike DiGiovanna from The Times is reporting the following from Anaheim GM Tony Reagins ...
"Manny will not be an Angel," Reagins said in his first public comments since the Angels pulled their offer to Teixeira on Sunday. "We're going to give our kids an opportunity to play. We signed [outfielder] Juan Rivera to a three-year deal, and we think, given at-bats, he can be productive player. "With Torii Hunter, Vladimir Guerrero, Gary Matthews Jr., Reggie Willits, our outfield is intact. It will not happen. We are not going to sign Manny Ramirez. End of story."
Why do I love it? Two reasons. One, I feel the Dodgers need to resign Manny at a high-dollar/low-year contract, and this turn of events can't possibly hurt those odds since alternative options for Ramirez appear severely narrowed. Two, it's fun looking like I might turn out right about something. Happens so rarely. Although technically speaking, were I correct, it would only be after I chastised the Dodger brass for their original offer I deemed wholly unrealistic and transparently insincere (Ned Colletti is either on the verge of being incredibly lucky or is an unparalleled genius at forecasting the open market). But c'mon, allow me a small moment in the sun!
AK
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Sounds like good news for the Blue....
HOWEVER!
I never believe a word anybody involved (agents, GMs, owners, players, "unnamed sources") say in the hot stove until the player signs on the line that is dotted. It's all just rumor-mongering and spin. The more the Angels protest that they're not pursuing Manny, the less surprised I'll be when Buster Olney breaks the "ManRam to LAA" news...
Posted by: Eric B. | December 23, 2008 at 02:16 PM
I don't think the Teixeira signing really changes the market for Manny all that much. If anything, it shows that the Yankees have no payroll restrictions. It's still them and the Dodgers, barring some random team like the Giants or Orioles throwing an offer out there. Manny would be a huge upgrade over Swisher, Damon, or Matsui, to be a DH-left fielder. Hopefully Ned will atleast have the opportunity to counter if the Yanks make Manny a big offer.
Posted by: D-Web | December 23, 2008 at 02:21 PM
Is it possible that Scott Boras has missed the market for Manny by driving it up for Teixera? Who's left to give Manny a 6-year deal? The Nationals? Good luck with that. The Mets? A possibility, I suppose, but no more attractive than the Dodgers.
If the Dodgers do sign Manny, the auctioning of Juan Pierre will begin at closeout prices. Unless, that is, the Dodgers can get something for Andruw Jones. I predict no more than $1 million for each HR he hit last year (3).
If Jones was a do-over for Pierre, then Manny must be seen as a do-over for Jones.
Posted by: SaMo | December 23, 2008 at 02:21 PM
Andruw Jones is 3-18 (.188 - all 3 hits are singles) with 8 K's in the Dominican Winter League. Hey, Ned - time to re-sign Manny NOW!
Posted by: Higgins | December 23, 2008 at 02:23 PM
bring on manny!
Posted by: poppinfresh | December 23, 2008 at 02:25 PM
AK.
Ok headlines should be how previously totally inept forcaster finally gets one right.
David S
Posted by: David s | December 23, 2008 at 02:29 PM
Ned Colletti and the Dodgers have been incredibly lucky with Manny; first they get him for almost nothing during the middle of last season, and now he may fall back into their laps with the Yanks, Angels and Red Sox out of the picture. Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good.
Posted by: steve02001 | December 23, 2008 at 02:30 PM
I second that, "Bring On Manny!"
HO! HO! HOF! Manny Christmas!!!
Posted by: gus2327 | December 23, 2008 at 02:49 PM
What would Teddy KGB say?
Posted by: DodgerBlueBalls | December 23, 2008 at 03:03 PM
Pay the Manny his money.
I'd really like all this to be over so I can focus on my construction of a Gingerbread Dodger Stadium.
It was looking great until the dog ate Vin Scully... shockingly she passed on Charlie Steiner.
Posted by: benzojones | December 23, 2008 at 03:12 PM
Hey Benzo
While your making a run at Manny. Don't you think a little run at Derick Lowe would be a good move?
Package
Posted by: Package | December 23, 2008 at 05:08 PM
Package
I would love to see Lowe back. It sure couldn't hurt...
It would be nice to know what is going on with that.
Posted by: Andy B | December 23, 2008 at 06:10 PM
Hey Package,
I don't think it's a matter of the Dodgers not wanting Lowe. I believe the situation is Lowe doesn't want the Dodgers.
As our snake-skinned boot wearing GM might say, "You can take a horse to water but..."
Posted by: DodgerBlueBalls | December 23, 2008 at 06:26 PM
This opens the door even wider for Mannywood Pt2 but dont count out the Yankees. They'll at least drive the price higher as no way they will pass on #99 if he's available for 45 Mil.
What I dont understand is the Dodgers complete reluctance to resign Lowe. He's durable, a winner and a groundball pitcher. A perfect #2 or #3 starter that you can count on.
Posted by: Atticus | December 23, 2008 at 06:26 PM
Package -
Abso-friggin-lutely.
Posted by: benzojones | December 23, 2008 at 06:26 PM
As stated earlier thread... the Yankees might just be crazy enough to sign Manny TOO!!!! I never imagined the Yankees would get Tex w/ the signings of CC and AJ Burnett... thought they would possible go for Manny but 180 million / 430 + million for 3 players is insane! Blow that kind of money, what's another 70 million???
At this point though anything goes.... most likely NO OTHER BIDDERS for Manny except Dodgers and Nationals... maybe Mets or Angels but I think both already have other needs they need to look at... and Manny is not a top priority for those teams.
Package, good point about Lowe. Before today I would of said, no way b/c Lowe doesn't want to be here in LA but we should never believe anything and never close the door on anyone that can help.
Posted by: Rob | December 23, 2008 at 06:27 PM
Lowe would be nice, but is not going to happen. The jerk does not want to play for the Dodgers, so, Ned let him walk. Can't blame him, if he doesn't want to be in LA, good riddance...his choice. Now the market has changed so drastically that he will not get as much $ as Borass would have liked. He will end up with the NY Mess.
The only thing that worries me about Manny is if some "mystery team" suddenly swoops in and offers more than 45 mil (Giants, Nats, Braves ???) Best case scenario would be signing Manny, and trading some combination of Hu/Pierre/McDonald for Peavy.
Stranger things have happened, as we have seen in this crazy off-season!
Posted by: Jesse from SC | December 23, 2008 at 08:30 PM
Fellas... relax. There is still no need to rush here whatsoever. The thing about holding all the cards is that you have to let the other guy sweat a little before you realize your advantage...
Borass may have bumbled his client out of several million dollars here, but Ned would STILL be a fool to bid against himself. Sit back and let this play out. Worst case scenario is that Borass gives the Dodgers a chance to counter any actual offer that comes in from another team (which I still don't think will happen, Yankee craziness aside. I mean, Matsui and Swisher are still a little too good and too expensive to bench in favor of spending another $23 mill per).
And when these offers from "mystery" (read: made-up) teams don't happen, the Dodgers get their guy for 2 years at $20 million per (or less). That's smart money that doesn't tie the Blue down for Manny's late-late-30's decline.
But if Borass ends up getting a 3rd year out of the Dodgers (which is a bad idea in and of itself) or the Blue end up paying anything more than their original offer, then Borass still wins. And don't you want to twist that knife just a wee little bit first? I mean, let the jerk lose already!!
Posted by: VA Blueblood | December 23, 2008 at 09:23 PM
I think Manny is ours for the taking, all we have to do if make an offer again.
Along the lines of Lowe..I feel if we offer he might accept especially since his prospective market is declining.
If we get Manny a package deal for Peavy would be great...but it depends on the cost (players involved)
Posted by: K T | December 24, 2008 at 01:51 AM
DBB
I have heard that Lowe does not want to return to the Dodgers but he has gone on record as saying that he did want to return and that the Dodgers did not ever ask him to return or make any indication of offering anything to return. I think Ned just let everybody think that Lowe did not want to return. One thing is sure, somebodys lying!
Package
Posted by: Package | December 24, 2008 at 04:33 AM
Package,
Something tells me Lowe thought he was Burnett.
Posted by: benzojones | December 24, 2008 at 07:50 AM
Benzo,
Man you are an important person...I didn't know we were in the company of such greatness. Here is a blog from MLB Trade Rumors:
"Today from 8am-5pm CST, MLB Trade Rumors will be tended by Ben Jones. If you come across a link for a rumor that is not on the site, please email it to Ben at benmlbtr@gmail.com. Thanks, and happy holidays! "
I don't know why you just don't post all the rumors here 1st. :) :0 :(
Posted by: K T | December 24, 2008 at 08:16 AM
I was pretty shocked that Teixeira signed with the Yanks instead with the BoSox. That bluff that the BoSox called on Boras didn't exactly work out, Boras got the last laugh! I really thought Tex would land in Bean town so Manny would go to the Yanks. With the signing of Tex with the Yanks, Manny's marriage with the Yanks isn't plausible anymore. I'm sure Boras has something up his sleeve for a bidding war for Manny. Does that mean the Nats and the Blue will bid for against eachother for Manny, we'll see? Do the Nats even really want Manny? Does Boras want Manny to stay in the NL west, where the pitching isn't really up to par, compared to the AL? Maybe to keep his numbers up for a future contract? I don't know and maybe that's a little off? Just like I said before, Manny's rep that he got with the BoSox is definitely hurting him and teams are using that against him. It's obvious that no one wants to give him a 4 yr deal with all of his baggage, his attitude, and his disappearing act of hustling. But, the thing I believe is that Manny acts will never appear again, he knows how bad it's affected his value and knowing that he will be working for short term contracts for the rest of his playing career. Manny has to be a good Manny here on out!
At the moment, the Blue seem like front runners to get Manny back but, knowing the McCourts we'll see what happens? In my opinion regarding FAJ, he is done, his numbers in winter ball shows how bad he has fallen off! No one drops off this bad and recovers, his best days are way behind him! He is not going to get any major playing time during the season, so a push for Manny will be there.
It just seems too easy for the Blue right now to retain Manny, Boras is going to create something to increase the bidding for Manny. It just can't get this easy for the Blue to get Manny back?
Posted by: Matsuda | December 24, 2008 at 10:10 AM
I have been found out! EXPOSED for the fraud I am!
Here it is: AJ and Pierre for Peavy after the manny signing. Dodgers pay 70%. Peavy gets 2 years for 22mil.
Gnaw on that kids.
Posted by: benzojones | December 24, 2008 at 10:14 AM
oh... and manny 3 years 90 mil
Posted by: benzojones | December 24, 2008 at 10:16 AM