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With Jason Bay coming to the Red Sox and Manny Ramirez gone, we can now rid ourselves of the headache that was Manny Ramirez.  I don't know much about Bay as a person, but this whole thing is addition by subtraction in some sense.

I have to imagine Manny's teammates were just sick of going to battle while he took time off.  The resentment is gone (or will go) and they can now focus on playing good baseball and know that Bay will be one of them.  Add to it that Bay is no slouch and happens to be a left fielder to boot.

Friday night is Bay's potential debut.

As for the deal itself, it looks like this based on reports:  Manny to LA (sorry Joe Torre), Jason Bay to Boston and 4 prospects to Pittsburgh.  Of those 4, two are from Boston's system, Craig Hansen and Brandon Moss.  I'll miss Moss a bit as he seemed to play the game the right way and showed signs of being a Major Leaguer.  Hansen's act had grown thin and it is probably good for him to get a fresh start.

Posted by Andy (Red Sox) at 05:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Final Update:  Jon Heyman broke this thing, Manny to the Dodgers and Jason Bay to the Red Sox.  The Pirates will get 4 minor leaguers.  I assume 4 total from the Dodgers and Red Sox.  Early reports suggest that it is Brandon Moss and Craig Hansen.

Initial Post:  Boston Globe writer Gordon Edes is reporting that Manny has been traded but offers no details.  He posted just at few minutes ago at 4:20pm.  Stay tuned.

4:31pm - Update:  Perhaps to the Dodgers per MLBTraderumors.com via SI's Jon Heyman.

4:32pm - Update:  Now Cafardo is saying 3-team deal, Manny to Dodgers, Bay to Boston.

Posted by Andy (Red Sox) at 04:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

By now we all know there is talk of a 3-way deal between the Red Sox, Pirates and Marlins.  The main players involved are Manny Ramirez, Jason Bay and Jeremy Hermida.

The Pirates wind up with Hermida

The Marlins wind up with Ramirez

The Red Sox wind up with Bay.

.299/.398/.529 - 20 HR, 68 RBI, 365 ABs- Ramirez

.282/.375/.519 - 22 HR, 64 RBI, 393 ABs - Bay

Those are their 2008 stats.  Pretty similar with Ramirez getting the edge (more production in less at bats).  But otherwise, Bay isn't a significant downgrade based on 2008 alone.  Bay is signed through 2009 (approx $9mm in 2009) meaning the Red Sox could either work out an extension with him or let him go (most likely as a type A free agent) and get 2 picks for him.

A look at a larger sample size is a good idea, so lets take the past 5 years (2004-2008):

.303/.401/.573 - 163 HR, 532 RBI, 2419 ABs - Ramirez

.281/.374/.515 - 136 HR, 440 RBI, 2511 ABs - Bay

Again, nod to Ramirez (landslide).  But when you factor in age (Bay is 29, Ramirez is 36), and you look at Ramirez's production last year and this, the trade is a bit more even, but certainly Ramirez is the better hitter.  Where the trade potentially swings to the Red Sox favor is defensively, a hustle standpoint and a clubhouse standpoint, all vague and near impossible things to measure to be sure but important nonetheless.

This is a no-win situation for Boston but I think their best move is to get as much as possible in a move for Ramirez.  If after taking in offers they feel they are a better team with him, so be it.  I'm glad to learn though that they are kicking the tires and if Bay indeed is an option, I'd do it.

Posted by Andy (Red Sox) at 09:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)

We are less than 19 hours from the MLB non-waiver trade deadline.  After seeing the Red Sox nearly no-hit last night, I am struggling to contain my concern.

One game is obviously too small a sample size to draw any conclusions, but the Red Sox are officially flat.

Stats:  The Red Sox are 27-23 over their last 50 games.  11-15 over their last 26 and 11-12 in July.  That's not good baseball.

If for no other reason than to inject some new blood in this team, I think Theo Epstein and co. need to make a move.  Not a move for moves sake necessarily, but to try and improve the team...at any position.

I write this while watching one of the worst Red Sox performances of the year.  They can't pitch, can't field and can't hit.  They look like fools right now.  Again a one game sample size, but definitely the worst performance of the year.

Something's got to give.

Well maybe that's true, rumors abound that the Red Sox are speaking with the Florida Marlins about a deal sending Manny Ramirez and getting either Jeremy Hermida or Josh Willingham and prospects.  There is also talk about a 3-way deal with the Red Sox trading Ramirez and ultimately getting Jason Bay from Pittsburgh.

A good chance nothing will happen of course, but the sheer number of writers reporting rumors with Ramirez suggest to me anyway, that something could be happening.

MLBTradeRumors compiles all the rumors and has the following writers talking about a Ramirez deal:

Ken Rosenthal - Fox Sports

Gordon Edes - Boston Globe

Jayson Stark - ESPN

Joe Frisaro - MLB.com

Jim Molony - MLB.com

John Perrotto - Baseball Prospectus

Buster Olney - ESPN

Dan Graziano - NJ Star-Ledger

Will Carroll - Baseball Prospectus

That's quite a few writers reporting on the same deal.  Volume doesn't mean anything necessarily, but a few of these guys are well respected writers and some, well some I've never heard of.  Evaluating all the noise, I think I would be happy with Jason Bay for Ramirez or Josh Willingham.  I wouldn't mind Jeremy Hermida, but he is a lefty and suddenly your 3-4-5 hitters are lefties, makes little sense.  Hermida would be great past 2008, but not a good fit for now.

For those who missed it, Manny is still pushing for a trade in his own way.  Manny talking with ESPN Deportes today.

"The Red Sox don't deserve a player like me.  During my years here, I've seen how they have mistreated other great players when they didn't want them to try to turn the fans against them.

"The Red Sox did the same with guys Nomar Garciaparra and Pedro Martinez, and now they do the same with me. Their goal is to paint me as the bad guy.  I love Boston fans, but the Red Sox don't deserve me. I'm not talking about money. Mental peace has no price, and I don't have peace here."

I'm not sure where to start.  I think the first thing to say is this.  Manny, you are a bozo.  Any chance the Red Sox knew what they were dealing with with Nomar and Pedro?  I think they are 2-2 on those non-deals.  Manny, the fans don't like you anymore.  Sure you have your die-hards, but your act is a joke.  Fans like the Red Sox more than just the individual players.  You don't get it and you never will.  Go away.

I think that sums things up.  I have to assume part of his rhetoric is just an act to get a deal done, but he sure is pushing my buttons.  I am happy to know that Red Sox management deals with things in a business-like manner and doesn't get emotional (or as emotional) as I might.  Hopefully they are weighing the good and bad with any possible deal and will make the appropriate evaluations.

If I had access to the "please trade Manny" Red Button, I'd have pushed it already.  Deep breaths, keep it together....KIT.  There, that's better.  Anyway, stay tuned, anything can happen between now and 4pm tomorrow.

Posted by Andy (Red Sox) at 09:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Gammons is reporting the Red Sox are interested in Doug Brocail but are not interested in Miguel Tejada.  Further proof Red Sox management reads this site (and is greatly influenced by it).

MLBTradeRumors reports that Projo's Sean McAdam believes the Red Sox are interested in lefty Ron Mahay.  While the Herald's Rob Bradford says they are looking at Geoff Geary, Brian Fuentes, George Sherrill (he'd be a nice pick-up!) and Will Ohman.

So many names, so little likelihood.

Posted by Andy (Red Sox) at 11:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

ESPN Deportes is reporting that the Red Sox are interested in Miguel Tejada.  Giving credit where credit is due, I got this from MLBTradeRumors.

Tejada in Boston, eh?  Interesting.  Would the Red Sox trade for Tejada to play baseball or act as a Manny Ramirez babysitter?

ESPN's Peter Gammons tore Manny apart today in his blog.  Gammons points out that Manny has decided he was hurt when it came time to face some of the toughest pitchers in baseball in 2008:

Felix Hernandez - twice

Joba Chamberlain - twice

Edison Volquez - once

Justin Verlander - once

In addition, he says Manny leaves David Ortiz to "face the heat" for him.

I guess my cynical side says this trade idea is an insurance policy.  Bring in Tejada to make sure the Red Sox don't "lose" Manny.  Well, I don't like it.  Tejada would cost Boston $4m this year and $13mm in 2009.  All for a player who is 2 years older than we thought and not hitting like a $13mm a year player.  His current .738 OPS is his lowest since his 2nd year in the Majors.

Manny is forcing an enhanced risk management program.

Also, can you seriously argue that Tejada is that much better than Jed Lowrie (.732 OPS) or Julio Lugo (.683 OPS).  I would say his glove would be an improvement for sure (especially over Lugo), but not much else at an enormous expense (especially in 2009).  With Tejada being mentioned heavily in the Mitchell report, that's just makes this rumor upsetting.

It's too bad the Red Sox have to worry if Manny will tank it the rest of the way instead of just having to focus on getting that player or players to make a deep run in the playoffs.

Posted by Andy (Red Sox) at 09:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

While this is hardly late-breaking news (I got it from Peter and MLBtraderumors.com), Tim McCarver, during Saturday's Fox broadcast, relayed a conversation he had with Theo Epstein prior to the game in which Epstein said that if Manny Ramirez were to waive his no-trade, they would look to trade him.  Wow.

Somehow I missed this yesterday, but regardless, it is big news.  First off, it is significant in that this is the most forthcoming a Red Sox official has ever been, on the record, about player personal moves.  Secondly, it means the Red Sox would like him off the team...a big hole to fill.

ESPN Deportes interviewed Manny Sunday and Manny said he'd ok a trade.  He was quoted as saying "I don't want to be a problem and a distraction to the Red Sox in such a critical moment of the season. I want to help the team, even if that means I have to go."

In the interview, he did much to stress that his knee injury was legit and to let us all know he is a professional and would never play games.  Sure, I believe all he says.

No matter what else he said, Manny just called the Red Sox bluff (either intentionally or not) and they can now work a trade for him.  The question is does Boston get enough in return to fill the hole that Manny would create.  It doesn't seem likely they can get enough pop in return, unless they trade Manny for a bunch of prospects and then go and send a bunch of prospects to Atlanta and get Mark Teixeira (get ready for some OF play for Kevin Youkilis if that happens).

This isn't an ideal situation.  The ideal would be if Manny would just play baseball and shut up.  I guess that's asking for too much.

Let the rumors begin (Manny to Philly was one that cropped up buy the Phillies quickly denied it).

As for tonight's game, the NOAA.GOV radar doesn't look good, but the system is quick moving and should be out of the way in time to play some baseball with just perhaps a rain-delay to start things off.

Posted by Andy (Red Sox) at 04:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Providence Journal sports writer and ESPN contributor Sean McAdam reports in today's Projo that Manny faces disciplinary action, including possible suspension, if he opts out of the line-up again today.

The kicker in all of this in the Red Sox eyes is that Manny has not sought treatment for his knee condition.

From McAdam:  "Skepticism obviously exists within the organization about the severity of Ramirez’s injury.  Ramirez did not seek treatment for the knee on Thursday, an off-day, a signal to Francona that Ramirez would be available for last night’s series opener.  Ramirez said Wednesday in Seattle that the knee had been bothering him for the last week, but he has not sought treatment from the training staff."

Posted by Andy (Red Sox) at 12:48 PM | Permalink

Manny Ramirez did last night what he has done so many times before.  He sat while his team needed him.  Knee injury or not, the race for a playoff spot is tight and the Red Sox are obviously a better squad with Manny than without.

By declaring himself unable to play (despite two clean MRIs after the game), Manny forever likened himself to Nomar Garciaparra.  I'll confess, while watching the game last night, I didn't put this comparison together, rather it happened Saturday morning.

Remember the 2004 game in the Bronx where Derek Jeter made one of the greatest catches ever?  He was in a full sprint to snare a pop-up and his momentum carried him into the stands only to emerge bruised and bloodied?  I know you know the game.  It was also the same game where Nomar Garciaparra sat on the bench while the rest of his teammates were leaning against the dugout netting.  Garciaparra's brooding and unwillingness to be part of the team ultimately led to his being traded and perhaps changed the direction of the Red Sox franchise.

Well Friday night was Nomar all over again, except this time it was Manny.  Enough is enough.  The trade deadline is 5 days away and the Red Sox need help.  David Ortiz is back, but if Manny decides to play the role of a 3 year old, again, there is no time to wait him out.  Send him packing and try to acquire help.  The Yankees just made a good move in getting OF help and a situational lefty.  A nice pick-up for a team just 2 games back from Boston.

I am not about to propose trade ideas or what I think the Red Sox could get in return for Manny, but anything is better than a $20mm player not willing to play.

The Boston Globe's Gordon Edes said "one player (teammate) called it a disgrace and would not be surprised if the team tried to trade Ramirez."

Ramirez is probably acting like this because he wants to know if his team option will be picked up for next year.  Well, this is proof again that Ramirez is less mature than most toddlers.  He fails to realize the significance of a "team first" attitude.  What makes it all the more shameful is that Manny has already earned over $160,000,000 playing baseball and despite that, he is more concerned about his next paycheck than his next World Series opportunity.

Manny, you are a bore.  Take your act somewhere else.

Red Sox notes: As for the game itself, Friday was a frustrating night for Red Sox fans.  Too few hits (who could have helped there I wonder), a bad called third strike (part of the game) and yet another bean-ball by Joba Chamberlain aimed at Kevin Youkilis's head.  That last part is very distressing.  Per Baseball Tonight, Jason Varitek was heard wondering aloud how to deal with Chamberlain.  The conclusion was to ultimately take matters in the players hands.  In other words, I guess we can expect a plunk fest today or tomorrow.  Most likely tomorrow because Tim Wakefield just doesn't have the capacity to, well, hurt or intimidate an opposing batter.  He can humiliate them sure, but that's really all.

Get ready for some Tim McCarver today!!!

Posted by Andy (Red Sox) at 10:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (13)

David Ortiz has homered in his 2nd consecutive rehab game for Pawtucket.  Given the Red Sox announced Ortiz would return July 25th against the Yankees, Ortiz stands to get plenty of at bats before facing major league pitching.

Seriously, do we have to wait another week to get Ortiz back?  7 more calendar days?  I like Sean Casey and all (although he could stand to do a sit-up now and again and perhaps say no to the buffet), but Ortiz is in another category and is needed in Boston, not Pawtucket.

The long-ball is not necessarily an endangered species for the Red Sox, but more of it can't hurt.  Theo Epstein, maybe you can fly Ortiz out for the the start of next Monday's series in Seattle?  Watching John "I can land airplanes in my open mouth" Lackey keep pace with the Red Sox Friday night makes me think Ortiz should be helping Boston sooner than July 25th.

Posted by Andy (Red Sox) at 12:01 AM | Permalink