Market favors a Ramírez deal
The list of possible trading partners for the Red Sox in a Manny Ramírez deal shrank by another team yesterday, even as an exploding market makes the remaining $38 million on Ramírez's contract appear a relative bargain.
The New York Mets, who long have explored trading for Ramírez, appeared to take themselves off the market for his services as they closed a one-year, $8.5 million deal with 40-year-old Moises Alou to replace Cliff Floyd in left field. The Mets are expected to spend their big cash on another starting pitcher, with lefthander Barry Zito their expected primary target.
The most coveted slugger among this winter's free agents, Alfonso Soriano, came to terms with the Cubs on an eight-year, $136 million deal, which obligates the Cubs to pay the soon-to-be 31-year-old an average of $17 million a year until he's 39. That's on top of the five-year, $75 million deal the Cubs paid to keep their third baseman, Aramis Ramirez, from leaving as a free agent.
It is Soriano's contract that should make clubs look at Ramírez's contract more favorably. The Red Sox left fielder's contract calls for him to be paid a base salary of $14 million in 2007 and $16 million in 2008. In addition, he is due a deferred payment of $4 million each year, to be paid in a lump sum on July 1 in both 2007 and 2008.
That's a total value of $38 million, or less than the $45 million the Dodgers reportedly are giving slap-hitting Juan Pierre in a five-year deal.
Ramírez would be expected to ask for an extension in exchange for waiving his veto rights to a trade (as a 10-5 player), but outside of Barry Bonds, there aren't any future Hall of Fame sluggers remaining on the market.
So where does he go? The Angels, who showed considerable interest in Ramírez last winter, would appear to have positioned themselves for a possible trade by signing free agent setup man Justin Speier, freeing setup man Scot Shields in a possible package deal that also could include a starting pitcher, Ervin Santana, or a top prospect such as Brandon Wood.
But one National League executive said that when his club asked about Shields, the response was that the Angels were keeping Shields and signing him to a long-term deal.
Still another executive said the Angels are more focused on signing a center fielder, Gary Mathews, for a reported $55 million over five years. The Angels, who have a greater need for a center fielder than a corner outfielder, also have coveted Toronto outfielder Vernon Wells, who is eligible for free agency after the 2007 season.
While talks have remained quiet, the Sox have pushed Texas owner Tom Hicks to once again consider trading for Ramírez. The Sox and Rangers discussed a Ramírez-for-Alex Rodriguez swap three years ago, the deal falling apart under the immense weight of the money involved. This time, according to multiple sources, the Sox would like to pry All-Star shortstop Michael Young away, but there has been little evidence that the Rangers would part with Young.
In the meantime, Boston remains the likely destination of outfielder J.D. Drew, though his agent, Scott Boras, said there are a half-dozen teams interested. Julio Lugo appears their prime shortstop target, especially if the talks for Young prove a dead end, although the Sox aren't wild about laying out $32 million over four years for Lugo.
One industry executive insisted the Sox were dangling outfielder Wily Mo Peña to the Nationals for closer Chad Cordero, though Nationals GM Jim Bowden, through a club spokesman, denied any such discussions. Bowden, who traded for Peña when he was with Cincinnati, has long held Peña in high regard.
Second baseman Mark Loretta said he considers it unlikely he would be back in Boston next season, though he didn't rule it out altogether. "They haven't made an offer," said the 35-year-old free agent, who hit .285 in 155 games last season. "Everything we've heard is that they're going with [Dustin Pedroia], that they don't want to retard his development."
Loretta was mentioned as a possibility with the Mets, but that went away when the Mets re-signed Jose Valentin.
As for Trot Nixon, the free agent right fielder? Multiple team executives and scouts said his name was barely discussed at last week's GM meetings in Naples, Fla.
The Sox also announced several procedural roster moves yesterday. They added righthanded pitcher Kyle Jackson and lefthanded pitcher Phil Seibel to their major league roster. Jackson's contract was purchased from Double A Portland, Seibel's from Triple A Pawtucket. The Sox also activated three pitchers -- righthander Matt Clement, lefthander Jon Lester, and righthander David Pauley -- from the 60-day disabled list. They assigned lefthanded pitcher Abe Alvarez outright to Pawtucket after activating him from the 60-day disabled list.
