Talk of Manny going up north: One GIANT fraud?
According to the always chatty "Sources" (dude is VERY plugged into the MLB loop), all this chatter about Manny Ramirez and the Hated Ones in negotiations is, well, poppycock. Balderdash. Or, if you prefer the vernacular from the ESPN report, "baloney." Such a revelation feels like anything but, considering the Giants have typically been described as being in cost-cutting mode and Scott Boras is trying to wangle a contract long on years, money and possibly even a signing bonus that includes a unicorn. Thus it makes sense that The Times' Dylan Hernandez is reporting that Ned Colletti and Team Borez (the Boras/Ramirez hybrid) have continued their shop talk. When it ends, nobody knows for sure, but assuming the Four Letter Network is on point, unless the Yankees are truly willing to burn cash, Manny's options are looking more scarce by the day. As always, that feels like good news for the Blue.
For those looking for something to sweat besides Manny's hopeful return date, chew on this nugget about Chad Billingsley. Like they said on "Press Your Luck"... "No whammy. No whammy. No whammy." As always, Jon Weisman at Dodger Thoughts finds the info before us, so we thank him for the alert.
Man, I used to love "Press your Luck."
AK
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At this point, the issue between Boras/Ramirez duo is length and yearly amount. Boras is still trying to push for a 4 or 5 yr contract and around 25 mil per year. I don't know what Boras is smoking thinking that Manny is going to get something like that. Like we all knew, the "The Hated Ones" rumor was probably some type of fabrication leaked from the Boras Institute of Inflation! For some reason I was never really concerned about the Giants interest in Manny. I'm sure right now Manny probably isn't too pleased with the fact that Boras will not get him a deal he was looking for! Boras f'ed up again on dictating the market! There is no market for Manny in the 4yr/100 mill range! I don't think the Yankee's would even do anything like that, considering the money they have. The value for these corner outfielder's are dropping like FAJ batting average last yr! I really think if Manny signs a short deal with the Blue, he definitely won't be back after that contract runs out. Again we have wait and see how this ends?
Posted by: Matsuda | January 06, 2009 at 08:30 PM
Interesting on Billz and probably adds to the fact that he is still to young to be a #1 for a serious WS contender.
Crap, looks like Sheets may be an option.
Posted by: dalegribel | January 06, 2009 at 09:03 PM
dale - do not deny the power of vargas.... let his spirit wash over you, and you will believe... YOU WILL BELIEVE!
Posted by: benzojones | January 06, 2009 at 10:25 PM
I heard today on the Four Letter Network that some execs are concerned that if they sign Manny to a contract that was dictated, not by Boras, but by the market in general, he may pull a Manny being Manny. Shouldn't we be concerned too? Do we want a player where we'll be wondering every time he goes 0-5 if he's having another tantrum?
Posted by: DonD | January 06, 2009 at 10:35 PM
All the high price DEALS that come to be, only chase more an more fans away who can't afford to bring there family to see a game. By the time you by four tickets pay the totals,by some eats an other things its costing you $200.00 for the day.ONE BIG DEAL PLAYER WOUN"T BRING THE TITLE TO A TEAM
Posted by: Dan Jacoby | January 07, 2009 at 01:01 AM
Trevor Hoffman?? Really?? I guess they are hoping he is this year's Lidge. Well hopefully he is under $5M, and Hopefully Saito isn't forgotten about.
Posted by: SteelMohawk | January 07, 2009 at 05:53 AM
Jacoby, The ticket prices for the Dodgers have gone up, no matter who has been on the team. IF you are going to pay for an afternoon/evening of baseball, might as well get your money's worth.
Posted by: SteelMohawk | January 07, 2009 at 06:14 AM
I never saw how it made any sense at all for the Giants to pick up Manny. The last thing their team needs is another old dude with a big contract on their roster. As an NL team they would have the same problem as the Dodgers would in a couple of years, what to do with an old guy who can't play the outfield?
Didn't they just rid themselves of an all hit, no field left fielder who took up a significant portion of their payroll? How well did that work out for them? I know many of you think Manny walks on water, but as good a hitter as he is, he wasn't going to put up the kinds of numbers Barry was putting up. Why would the Giants put themselves in the same situation once again?
To be honest, a little part of me was hoping the Giants would sign Manny to the 4 year deal Scanner suggested a few threads ago. That would have given me more opportunities to laugh at the Giant organization for years to come.
Posted by: HardHittin25 | January 07, 2009 at 07:04 AM
DonD - I think you make a good point. I have argued on here that the Dodgers should sign Manny to a contract of 2 years or less and for less than $20M/year as I don't think he is worth more and I think the market will prove that. However, while arguing this I have thought about how Manny might react to having to play for less money than he would have made with Boston. I think the fact that I even had to think about that tells us a lot about Manny. Do we really want a guy that is so unprofessional that he may not perform because he is unhappy with his contract? Perhaps he should only be signed to a one-year contract at the MLB minimum with incentives to allow him to make up to $25M if he performs. That way he takes money out of his pocket when he pulls a Manny being Manny.
Posted by: HardHittin25 | January 07, 2009 at 07:21 AM
Forget Manny! Lets get Dunn AND Abreu. We can trade Kemp and another minor leaguer to San Diego for Peavy. Sign Hoffman and Pettitte....and off to the WS we go!
Posted by: DonD | January 07, 2009 at 08:18 AM
"Forget Manny! Lets get Dunn AND Abreu. We can trade Kemp and another minor leaguer to San Diego for Peavy. Sign Hoffman and Pettitte....and off to the WS we go!"
I kind of like this idea...I'm sick of this Manny drama, and he's not even on the team yet. I'm not too enthusiastic about Hoffman, but maybe we do go after Peavy for Kemp and prospects, and sign Dunn & Abreu.
Posted by: Steve | January 07, 2009 at 09:11 AM
Boras knows that Colletti can't help but bid against his former team SF Giants and old boss Sabean... Colletti finally had the restraint to not bid against himself and Boras had to go to extreme measures and make up the SF story.
Example is that Colletti took away Stan Conte from SF when he came over... actually Sabean tricked him into taking him off SF's hands. Then, Colletti thinks he stole Schmidt from SF, when in fact SF had no interest in Schmidt and knew he was damaged goods. Third, Colletti OVERPAYS for Pierre in years and $$$$ and the ONLY other bidder for Pierre was SF Giants. Colletti goes after Rowand and AJ b/c he hears SF is going after them... he gets AJ and SF gets Rowand... BOTH are BUSTS but AJ is by far the BIGGEST BUST!...
This should basically tell you that whoever SF is pursuing, stay away... unfortunately we have the biggerst idiot as a GM and he is trying to up one his old boss and sign away any players the SF Giants want??!! If SF signs Manny, Manny will suck... or get injured.... it won' pan out. You've heard of the great Babino curse on the BoSox.... the SF Giants will have the Bonds Curse for many years to come.
Posted by: Rob | January 07, 2009 at 09:46 AM
I've said it before and I'll say it again--no way SD takes Kemp and a prospect for Peavy. They were asking for Billz and Kershaw and two other prospects. SD isn't giving us Peavy without it being WAY too good a deal for them. I'd love to have Peavy, but there's no way it happens without destroying the team.
Posted by: Valmont | January 07, 2009 at 10:22 AM
Why does everyone want to move Matt Kemp. Let him grow as a player. If we look back at the old Dallas Cowboys, Gil Brandt used to draft the best athlete available at the time, regardless of need, and that worked out pretty well for them. My point being that Matt Kemp may be the best athlete ever to put on a Dodger uniform. He is still young and learning and has a good attitude. It would be a huge mistake to move him.
If there is no Manny (kind of like no Chirstmas), then is has to be Abreu over Dunn.
Posted by: dalegribel | January 07, 2009 at 10:55 AM
Borez is starting to get to me. Yo, Bor-man, we are the only game in town for Manny. Nobody else really wants him! Love to see Ned buy Sheets and Dunn for the Manny money and let Manny be a Gnat.
Maybe they could bring back Barry and the two could bang egos. Can't you feel the love!
Posted by: Jack in DC | January 07, 2009 at 11:25 AM
Valmont,
Thank you for being the voice of reason here. Anyone who believes that Peavy could be had from the Padres for just Matt Kemp and a song & dance is myopic and SORELY mistaken...
Posted by: DodgerBlueBalls | January 07, 2009 at 11:30 AM
Trading Kemp or Ethier would be downright stupid. The whole reason that Manny is such a great fit is that these guys will be in their prime when Manny starts to decline.
Obviously pitching has to improve, but there is a lot of time between now and the trading deadline for the playoffs. A lot more pitchers will be available once these teams know they aren't in the race. Right now is really just the time to sign free agents and after signing Manny, seeing if there is any interest in any pitching in return for Pierre as a starter on another team.
Posted by: Dodger Dude | January 07, 2009 at 11:37 AM
Dunn on one corner, Abreu on the other would be great until the other team hits a fly ball.
BK
Posted by: kambrothers | January 07, 2009 at 01:26 PM
I thought I caught something about the Yankees signing Angel Berroa. Anyone else see anything about this? I would actually be relieved by this news.
Posted by: dalegribel | January 07, 2009 at 02:01 PM
dalegabriel,
You are correct sir!!!
http://tinyurl.com/8ehco5
No more radio controlled airplanes in the Dodgers Clubhouse, I suppose...
Posted by: DodgerBlueBalls | January 07, 2009 at 03:33 PM
BK--ha!
(of course, the same goes for Manny in one of those slots, no?)
Posted by: VA Blueblood | January 07, 2009 at 07:28 PM
BK...
Juan Pierre in one corner, baserunner on first - Adam Dunn. Fly ball to left, Dunn tags, scores from first while the ball hovers over short stop trying to find its way to home plate....
DonD
Posted by: DonD | January 07, 2009 at 08:56 PM
All the Dodgers have to do is give him three years for no less than 65 mill.Let him earn the bulk of the money thru incenitives.If he does not resign im not worried.I think the dodgers would go after lets see shawn green, raul mondesi or Gonzo!
Posted by: Mike from Chino | January 08, 2009 at 01:45 PM
Mike, how about if they were fielding stats incentives?
Posted by: VA Blueblood | January 08, 2009 at 08:31 PM
Manny's above .500 avg during the NLDS has made all Dodgers fans salivate for another ring. Anyone who witnessed Loney's, Kemp's, Martin's and Either's passion for winning increase after [Manny's] arrival will agree that this mangement's focus on youth can only be helped by the addition of a man(ny), whose mere presence reeks of success and winning (while bringing a long awaited upbeat presence to the clubhouse). Russel Martin pouring champagne on fans, Andre Either hitting near .400 in the 3 spot, and a consistant group of 48,000 fans per game are testiment to the fact that we love our Dodgers, we love our youth, and Manny can do nothing but help us gain a world series birth, while reminding us all (old and young) that baseball is a game to be won, while having fun.
Posted by: chris boxley | January 08, 2009 at 11:28 PM