Manny being Yankee?
Scott Boras had to smile reading this. Hank Steinbrenner told the Associated Press yesterday that the Yankees would consider making an offer to Manny Ramirez, who has declared himself available to the highest bidder. As Ramirez said after the Dodgers’ NLCS loss to the Phillies: “Gas is up and so am I.”
Actually, in our neck of the woods, gas prices have gone down in the last few weeks, but that’s not the point. It’d going to take a pretty penny to bring Ramirez back to his Washington Heights roots, but Steinbrenner knows the Yankees can write big checks this offseason with more than $80 million coming off the books.
“There’s nothing we are not looking at,” Steinbrenner told the Associated Press on Friday at the Yankees’ spring training complex. “And personally, I like Manny. He’s one of the greatest hitters in the history of the game. He’s a free spirit for sure, but he knows how to win. We like some of the other guys, too. We just don’t know yet.”
Starting pitching remains the No. 1 objective, and the Yankees are expected to make a strong push for the Milwaukee Brewers’ CC Sabathia, as well as considering other free agent candidates like A.J. Burnett, Derek Lowe and Ben Sheets.
“Every team in baseball wants Sabathia,” Steinbrenner said. “That’s the bottom line. It’s not a real secret. Pitching is in the forefront for everybody, not just us. That’s why starting pitching is at a premium.”
Bryan Hoch
Manny is a cancer to any team that signs him. Look at what he did to the Red Sox this year. Do you think that a year or two from now that he is not going to do the same to the Yankees? He doesn’t hustle or care about anything but himself and money. I can’t believe the Yankees would actually be thinking of signing this mercenary. Look towards Colorado. There is a left fielder there that comes with a lot less baggage and is a lot younger (and cheaper). Some people will say, look at what he did for the Dodgers. My point exactly. That’s the way he should have been playing for Boston, then gone out on the Market and signed a huge contract during the off season. That’s the right way to do things.
Manny is a head case. But…so was Reggie. The Yankees of the later 70′s hated each other and won. Manny has four things going for him that outweigh his mental issues: one – he is one of the most clutch and dangerous hitters in baseball; two – everywhere he has gone in his career his teams have made the playoffs and/or won a world series on top of it; three- he has more recent history of champion success than any present Yankees; four – he has a chip on his shoulder and plays angry. People forget that Manny had been on the trading block on and off well before he became mental and I would not be surprised if that assisted in his becoming. He wanted to feel wanted. Yes he responded like a child but at least he was motivated to that direction. It would not be so bad to see him motivated to hurt the Red Sox. That said, I would rather get a guy in his prime such as Markakis, McLouth, et al. However, Manny only costs money… no prospects. The Yankees offense needs a jolt. Besides ARod would no longer be in the spotlight as much.
Arod is going to be a much bigger headcase that Manny and we have Arod for another 9 years. Watch, Arod is going to ….out
Signing Manny would be a really bad move for the Yankees. Not only are you giving loads of money away to a guy who just wants money. But they would be moving away from what the organization’s goal has been: to get younger and more athletic. The Yankees don’t need any more corner outfield/DH players and if they really want one they should sign a much cheaper option like Raul Ibanez or Adam Dunn.
Manny only makes sense as a replacement for Abreu. They are both older but Manny is better. Matsui should be traded and Damon the DH/OF. I would like someone younger than Manny also but do the Yankees want to give up the horses for a Holliday, McLouth, etc. Like it or not though Ramirez is worthy of consideration. That said, I would much rather have Tex. I just don’t want him for more than 6 years. ARod will be fine, 2009 is an odd number year. O/w, even with his distractions he is always some variation of great and still is a dedicated ball player who is always trying. (He just thinks too much.)
I said earlier that I would like Laroche and McLouth even better than Tex and Manny. Two very good all around players and a lot cheaper. Laroche is a more man’s Tex. I bet his numbers would only be slightly less than Tex’s. McLouth could play center and then move to left if and when AJax is ready.
“poor” man’s not “more” man’s
I have been a diehard Yankee fan for over 50 years. If the Yankees sign Manny, it would signal the end of what the team has always meant to me: professionalism, respect for the game and your teammates, class. We’ve had ‘bad’ Yankees before, Reggie immediately comes to mind, but Manny makes childish behavior an art form. I can’t imagine a worst addition to the team.
Yankees decline option on Marte.
Manny not so willing to cut his hair for the highest bidder?
Hughes not pitching in winter ball? long layoff.
Manny is a very cocky player. We have enough of that in our team. What the… means “gas is going up and so is Manny”
Freaking dumb doesn’t even know that gas prices are going down. He needs to be more humble in order for me to accept him as a Yankee player (That’s just a personal opinion)
When Sheff came here, pitchers feared him but he didn’t deliver, Manny will if Hank wins against Cash.
BP,
Glad you mentioned Sheffield. There was another “head case” like Manny, but we had the advantage of Torre as manager then. There is little chance Girardi could keep Manny “under control” when his enthusiasm wanes.
Actually, Sheffield had two very good seasons with the Yankees and then go hurt in his third. He hit 36 and 37 homers and drove in near or at 120 RBIs in his first two seasons while hitting for a decent average. Sheff then got hurt and started complaining about his role. I have to admit though, BPark has a point… Manny having to be clean cut could embitter him from the start. Maybe we should offer Manny an incentive laden package for his production against Boston. To Matkat, I understand your sentiment. The players of today are generally spoiled brats with little appreciation for the game. That said, you must remember that some of the most significant Yankees in history have been malcontents and/or disruptive. Babe Ruth was a mental disaster who came to the ballpark drunk and without sleep. Mantle was an alcoholic. Dimaggio was a womanizer. Reggie was a mental case. Yet, all of these players were significant components in the Yankees success during their respective eras. It is funny how much ridicule ARod gets when considering that he is light years more stable than Ruth or Mantle. The media is responsible for that. ARod is an overthinker and womanizer. However, he plays hard, trains hard and is always thinking baseball (when he is not womanizing anyway). Manny has two things in common with guys like Reggie, Mantle and Ruth — amazing offensive talent and a desire to be at bat when the game is on the line. The Yankees do not have anyone that clutch or that intense with their at bats. So I am not sure whether he is good or bad for the team when everything is washed. Manny may not be the most likable guy but he knows how to win. He won in Cleveland, Boston and LA. To me that means he has some value. Ty Cobb was an abhorrent man but one of the greatest players who ever lived. Bonds was not the most beloved man either. Compare Ramirez for a moment to Abreu. Abreu may not cause problems but Abreu is also satisfied with too easily. Winners are hungry and I think Manny would be hungry to prove that Boston should have stopped putting him on the trading block on an annual basis. I don’t like the guy but I did not like Reggie either. I still would probably take either of them. It is not as if there is someone who better fits the Yankees who could come to them without giving up the farm in the next couple of years.
The guy I want for the big at bat is Matsui. Manny may be more excitement and noisier, but Matsui is a guy that will play when injured, cause no commotions, and is far cheaper than Manny will be!!!
I am really sick and tired of reading these comments that Manny is a head case, unprofessional, etc – Manny is the greatest hitter of this generation (PERIOD!) – Manny is a winner, have we forgotten that he is a 2 time champion? It proved that Boston could not win without him, what does that say? Plz remember that Sox management wanted to trade him every year for the past 4 seasons – how is a player supposed to react? Mind you, he could’ve handled it a bit diffrently but look at what he did for the Dodgers – what do you think he would do if he were a Yankee with a nice contract? Then we would really find out how much better he is over Arod! This is the only opportunity the Yanks have to win a title in the forseeable future – this as clutch as anybody is baseball history, Arod is NOT and that is a fact!
I say forget about Tex – sign Manny – sign CC – trade for Holliday and it’s a title for sure!