Angels say 'no thanks' to Tex. Could Manny be nex(t)?
If you happen to be one of the gazillion Dodgers fans hoping the Blue will bring back Manny Ramirez, you should have been rooting for the Angels to re-sign Mark Teixeira. Well, for now at least, that doesn't look like it's going to happen. The Halos have pulled out of the bidding for the slugging first baseman, and while the door is never totally closed on a player still available on the free-agent market, the Angels tend not to play a lot of games when it comes to this sort of thing. I think Teixeira will land in Boston, close enough to his native Maryland but not requiring him to actually play for the Orioles or Nationals.
Had LAA been able to ink Tex to a long-term deal, the Manny Market would have continued to shrink. Instead, he could end up in Boston, the one team in baseball that absolutely, positively wasn't going to make Ramirez an offer. Instead, the Angels will remain in the hunt for a bat, and while they haven't exactly flooded Scott Boras' office with flowers and Cheesecake Factory gift cards, they haven't closed the door to Manny either. The Dodgers have been careful -- and smart -- not to bid against themselves for Ramirez. Now, though, they may have to start bidding against other teams, resurrecting the question of how high they'll go.
Both the Angels, if they are so inclined, and the Yankees, who need a little O themselves, have the advantage of offering Ramirez an extra year, safe in the knowledge that when his glove finally goes (if it hasn't already), the bat will remain and Manny can DH. (There are reports Manny has already inked with the pinstripers, though nothing official -- or in English -- has been produced as of 11:40 a.m. on Dec. 22.)
It's becoming clear that Boras is trying to squeeze whatever he can out of this market to maximize the take for each of his players. As it pertains to Manny, Boras and the Blue are playing a big game of chicken. The superagent bets that enough teams will eventually be interested that he'll be able to negotiate a deal along the lines of what he said he would get for Manny before the FA derby started. The Dodgers are gambling that a weak market will stay just that, and their more modest framework will be the best Ramirez can get.
CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett may have simultaneously set and squeezed out the money in the market for pitchers -- sorry Derek Lowe -- but the impact bats are still waiting. At some point, an Adam Dunn or Bobby Abreu will make the leap, which ought to set things in motion. Where that leaves Manny and the Dodgers is anyone's guess, but they'd have been better off if the Angels had filled their need for a stick.
But more than that, Arte Moreno knows how to play the game, and understands the psychological impact of stealing Manny from the McCourts. A couple big signings aside, the Hot Stove has been generally running on a preheat setting. At some point, though, even in a bad economy, that'll have to change.
BK
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BK,
I agree that if Tex returned to the Angels, the chances of the Dodgers resigning Manny would be substantially better, as their only realistic competition for Manny then would be the Yankees. However, I think you failed to mention a significant transaction that the Angels completed last weekend.
The Angels resigned Juan Rivera last weekend, and that now gives them 3 players to fill their corner outfield & DH spots: Rivera, Gary Mathew's Jr., and Vladdy. If anything, I think you might see the Angels bring in Giambi or Dunn to fill their unexpected vacancy at first base.
Posted by: DodgerBlueBalls | December 22, 2008 at 03:19 PM
Impacto Deportivo is sticking to their story, despite denials from Steinbrenner
http://weblogs.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/blog/2008/12/yankees_not_on_verge_of_signin.html
So Boston gets Tex, and NY gets Manny?!?! I guess everyone else gets the leftovers...including us.
Posted by: Jesse from SC | December 22, 2008 at 03:41 PM
Who needs a power bat when we got Andruw Jones. Down in winter ball, Jones is batting .188 after 5 games for the Aguilas Cibaenas.
Posted by: Joe the Plumber | December 22, 2008 at 05:39 PM
I'd hate to see it (because it irks me to see the LA Anaheims succeed), but if they've given up on Tex then Dunn at 1B makes so much sense for the Halos. That would be a brilliant signing for Moreno. Why does he have to be so damn brilliant?
Posted by: VA Blueblood | December 22, 2008 at 06:41 PM
For those of you who still see the Dodgers as a major market powerhouse with oodles of money, take a gander at the following:
http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081221&content_id=3725317&vkey=news_la&fext=.jsp&c_id=la
In particular, note the third paragraph of the second question. As I previously noted, I wasn't sure of the timeline. From the answer to the question, it appears that the Dodgers will be unable to establish a regional network for 4 years, which is 2013, not the 2012 I previously mentioned. The Dodgers are a major market team, but without the off the charts revenues of the Yankees, Mets and Red Sox. To further add to the imbalance, both the Yankees and Mets are opening lucrative new ballparks this year, and the Mets also have a 20 year naming rights deal with Citicorp that brings them $20 million per year (in other words, the price of one high priced free agent).
If the Dodgers launch a regional network in 2013, then more than likely they will be able to begin spending big time in 2012, in anticipation of increased revenues.
For those of you who remain in denial of reality, sorry. But it is what it is.
All that said, this doesn't mean the Dodgers can't spend. They simply cannot do so at the level of teams with regional networks. And by the way, although I have no idea what the Angels are planning, it wouldn't surprise me in the least if a regional network is in their plans. Since I know of no restrictions that they are under, I imagine it could happen at anytime. I'm actually surprised they haven't done it already.
Posted by: Brooklyn Dodger | December 22, 2008 at 08:09 PM
In the end, I don't see Manny coming back to the Blue. When Tex signs with the BoSox, the Angels will focus elsewhere than Manny. Manny is looking to get paid and the Angels aren't the ones who are willing. The Angels could make something happen, but I think they will look to add some offense through trades. I don't know why the Angels seem so disengaged with a Manny acquisition, but his rep in Bean hurt Manny through the Angels eye's. The Blue fall in that category too, they got too much wasted $$ on other players. The Yanks are willing to overpay for Manny and I'm sure Manny wants to make that marriage happen to get back at Boston! I'm sure the Blue will put on a PR stunt to Blue fans that getting back Manny could still happen. In the end, we all know how this will end.
Posted by: Matsuda | December 22, 2008 at 08:57 PM
Ur dumb broklyn dodger! Nobody says that we want a 200 million payroll but all we want is the dodgers to do something to better this team from last season all that has happen is the dodgers got worst!!
Posted by: mayandodger | December 22, 2008 at 09:24 PM
Is it 2009 yet?
Posted by: benzojones | December 22, 2008 at 09:32 PM
DBB-
Yeah, you make a great point about Rivera... I'd love to say that my analysis took that into consideration... but in reality I just totally forgot.
But you're right, it does make a difference. I do wonder, though, if they'd make a run at him anyway if he was still out there. But in one sentence, you've kind of invalidated an afternoon's work. Thanks for that (haha).
BK
Posted by: kambrothers | December 22, 2008 at 09:47 PM
Cut AJ some slack, rumor has it that in 2 of the games he was hitting against the Dominican Cy Young, and the Dominican Greg Madduz.
At least he is now fitting in the television frame.
Posted by: benzojones | December 23, 2008 at 10:31 AM
How many Boras clients have won World Series rings after signing big contracts? Not so many. Boras represented many of the 2004 Red Sox, as well as J.D. Drew, who won a ring in 2007. And of course Maddux, who we have to blame for creating Boras. But the list of busts is so much longer:
Carlos Beltran, Adrian Beltre, Johnny Damon with the Yankees, Andruw Jones, Magglio Ordonez, A-Rod, Barry Zito.
Teams that break the bank to give Boras clients the insane salaries they command so often find themselves without the small amounts of cash needed to sign complementary players. If the Dodgers overspend on an outfielder AGAIN, they're not going to have a dollar left to sign a shortstop when Furcal gets hurt, or a pitcher when the starry-eyed dreamers on this site realize that James McDonald isn't ready to be a stud starting pitcher just yet, and that Clayton Kershaw is still somewhat short of being Nolan Ryan.
The Dodgers still have many holes to fill. Blowing all their cash on Manny isn't going to help unless he can be had for a reasonable price over a short term. Anything more than their original offer will be money wasted.
Posted by: SaMo | December 23, 2008 at 11:40 AM
VABlood,
Wow!
BD,
Good points about regional networks... but they dropped so much salary from last year... if they had a 100 million + payroll last year, can't they sustain that for this year?
Mayandodger,
Double Wow... dude relax.. BD makes good points, but I do understand where you're coming from.
Angels WILL NOT sign Manny!!! Reagins said, absolutely not! Matsuda might be right about Boras and Manny. The Yankees are said to offer Manny $$$ but they have spent so much already and they are going to sign Pettite, etc. Manny, Jeter, and Arod would be great but I don't think Cashman will shell out 3 years when HE DOESN'T HAVE TO! It's obvious that only the Yankees and Dodgers have the kind of money that Manny wants... one dark horse as Pete Gammons stated.. Washington Nationals might come in though.
Manny market looks very bleak.... Boras OVERPLAYED his hand. His tactics are old now.. to many GM's know his game and he is not as effective anymore.
Posted by: Rob | December 23, 2008 at 12:47 PM
Now that the Yankees have swept in and signed Tex, and the Angels have said they won't be pursuing him. Seems that the Dodgers should be back out in front for Manny. We're not only the best option, we're really his only option. Ned should put the original offer back on the table. Maybe a third year but with less per year.
Posted by: Jukuren | December 23, 2008 at 01:06 PM
mayandodger,
If you're going to try to totally negate a guy's careful research and reasoned explanation for the actualities of what we are seeing, I think you would be well-served to come up with a better argument than "ur dumb" followed by some run-ons and awkward constructions that fail to address your antagonist's actual point. As I tell my students, grammar only matters when you want your audience to think that you are intelligent.
Posted by: VA Blueblood | December 23, 2008 at 01:17 PM
Hey Joe the plumber, you brought up a good point... The mighty FAJ is batting 0.188 with 8 SO in 16 AB with 1 RBI. In all fairness he has a 0.409 on base % and has dropped 20 lbs so we can no longer blame his weight... Lets scale his stats towards a full year shall we? That's ~34 rbi's, >200 strikeouts and maybe, just maybe a token homerun here and there. Nothing gets me more excited to hear that we are paying him 22.5 million this year to shoot for being the worst hitter in the league. Glad to see he is working towards his next contract...
Posted by: poppinfresh | December 23, 2008 at 01:17 PM
OK kids, keep one thing in mind, Scott Boras has a box at Dodger Stadium & is at many games. Boras knows he needs the Dodgers to compete for his players to keep as many options open. Ned & Frank know the value Manny brings to the Blue & may be playing it smart. Don't think for a minute Boras is not capable of setting up the Yankee rumor to get a 3rd guaranteed year offer from Ned & Frank. We may yet see Mannywood in L.A. in 2009. It makes too much Baseball & business sense. Think about it.........
Posted by: Maceo Campbell | December 23, 2008 at 01:18 PM
VA,
I've been away from the site since posting yesterday, and just saw the post by mayandodger. Your post in my defense was perfect, and better than anything I could have crafted. You have my gratitude.
mayandodger,
Because I have a busy schedule, I often find myself commenting extemporaneously (sorry, is that word too big for you?), which probably plays havoc with my construction at times. But I do make it a habit to use the preview button to filter out as many careless errors as possible (e.g., I just corrected "to big" and made it "too big"). In your case, the errors clearly amounted to something other than "careless", but I won't go there.
Posted by: Brooklyn Dodger | December 23, 2008 at 09:55 PM