The Red Sox tried to move Manny Ramirez to the Mets before, but not this time. They are speaking to several West Coast teams, but the asking price is steep and no deal is close.
The Dodgers’ top six prospects are Jonathan Broxton (the closer to replace Eric Gagne), outfielder Matt Kemp, first baseman James Loney, third baseman Andy LaRoche, pitcher Chad Billingsley and lefthander Scott Elbert. The Red Sox want Broxton, Kemp and one of the remaining four. That’s a huge part of their farm system.
If the Dodgers bite, then they’ll have to pay Ramirez $19 million for each of the next two years. The club would have options in the following two seasons.
Dodgers manager Grady Little had Ramirez in Boston and said: “I know how to handle Manny Ramirez. I respect him as a player and he was a marvelous ballplayer in Boston. There aren’t many like him and the Dodgers need a player of his stature.’’
Maybe so, but the money doesn’t come out of Little’s pocket. The Dodgers also have to consider their ability to build if they give up those prospects and how Ramirez’s contract might bind them.
There also doesn’t appear to be a fit with San Diego or San Francisco. Few teams have the resources to acquire Ramirez, which is why he’ll likely stay in Boston.
2 Comments
John- What’s the word on Maddux to padres?
To Jared …
That appears to be the direction he’s leaning. The Dodgers are interested in Jason Schmidt over him. He has a home between LA and San Diego, so I’m betting Padres.