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Manny trade rumor update ...

Email|Link|Comments (3) Posted by Steve Silva, Boston.com Staff July 29, 2008 08:15 PM

SI.com's John Heyman, who this afternoon wrote about the Dodgers potential interest in Manny Ramirez, has updated his report which now has the Philadelphia Phillies taking the lead as the team that could end up with Manny:

The Red Sox appear serious about trading slugger Manny Ramirez and are talking to the Phillies and two other teams about a deal, according to people familiar with the talks.
The Phillies may be the front-runner for Ramirez, who has told people he probably will OK a deal to Philadelphia if the teams can agree on a trade.

It isn't yet known what players would be going back to Boston, but left fielder Pat Burrell is having a similar year statistically (.277/.400/.585 with 26 HRs and 61 RBIs in 103 games for Burrell; .304/.400/.538 with 20 HRs and 68 RBIs in 98 games for Ramirez) and could be a logical fit. He has a no-trade clause but has told the Phillies in the past that he'd be willing to waive it for the Red Sox and Yankees.

If a deal can be completed, the addition of Ramirez would give Philadelphia one of the most dangerous lineups in baseball. The Phillies offense has been struggling lately and could use a boost from the Cooperstown-bound Ramirez, who has a longstanding relationship with Phillies manager Charlie Manuel, who was Ramirez's hitting coach when the two were in Cleveland.

In a report posted on NYTimes.com yesterday, Phillies GM Pat Gillick expressed no interest in exploring a trade for Manny:

“At this point, there’s no interest [in Manny] on our part,” said Gillick, in a telephone interview.
“We have no place to play the guy. ...

“Burrell has to play left field and I don’t think Ramirez has played right field in seven or eight years,” Gillick said.

Heyman writes that the Dodgers and the Marlins are the other teams involved in Manny talks with the Sox, with Florida being a longshot.

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports provided a trade deadline update tonight that has the Dodgers being out of the Manny running:

The Dodgers are not pursuing Red Sox left fielder Manny Ramirez, according to major-league sources. Their priority remains a shortstop, and they might end up with only a backup at the position, if anyone.
The Red Sox contacted the Dodgers about Ramirez, just as they've contacted virtually every team that might be interested in the slugger. The Dodgers, however, dismissed the idea, balking at the likely asking price and the circus-like atmosphere surrounding Ramirez.

"There's too much going on there," one source said.

And on ESPN.com, Jim Caple shows us what Manny's Hall of Fame plaque would look like if all the Manny trade rumors over the years had come to fruition.

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3 comments so far...

Burrell? Color me unimpressed about the career .260 hitter taking over for Manny Ramirez.

I've been as big a Manny apologist as there is and I'm as sick of him now as anyone, but baseball is a business and it's all about winning. There is no out outside of A-Rod or Pujols who can replace Manny's production. And in the end that's all I really care about.

I say take a deep breath, pick up his 2009 and 2010 option one at a time and then say goodbye. Hopefully Anderson or Reddick or Kalish can develop by then.

Posted by Evan July 29, 08 08:39 PM

JUST SAY NO TO BURRELL.

Having lived in Philly for the past 15 years and watching the Phillies, I just don't understand the infatuation others have with Burrell. THe guy disappears at the plate in pressure situations. He'd be 0 for every game against the Yankees. One year he lead MLB in looking at strike 3!!! That's not even swinging at strike 3 but watching the ball sail over plate and leaving the bat on his shoulder.

He's having one good year other than that he's horrible. He turned down hitting help from a hall of famer in Mike Schmidt. Here in Philly that's the equivalent to a Sox player turning down hitting advice from Ted Williams. It's just something you don't do.

Posted by Tom in PA July 30, 08 11:11 AM

I agree with the poster Evan 100%!

Management must understand Manny is what the fans want. Manny puts as Red Auerbach said Fannies in the seats.

Ortiz-Lowell-Drew-Tek run out balls in the same manner as Manny. The difference is when the camera does not shpw you them after thier swings they take forever it seems to put the motor in those legs. All major league teams have a good amount of players like this.

Manny has new agent who will not make money if his years are renewed for 2009 1nd 2010. Boras is also the agent for AROD. Does anyone else remember how he handled the YankeesAROD negotiation in game 4 in the 7th inning of the WS Redsox CLINCHER?

Manny started talking for the first time in 8 years after Boras became his agent. HELLO!!!!

Manny is as Big Papi and Pedro say CUKOO. Leave him alone and he will produce.. Let him talk and he does not mean or know what he is saying half the time. Ted Williams was not nice to the press or the fans for many years. MANNY IS NICE TO THE FANS. The fans pay to see Manny #1. He makes us all feel kinda goofy and comfortable. Hey he isn't going to be a polician like well loved Schilling hahaha!

Let Manny play for the fans here. Jerry RemDog Remy and Rick Burleson were two unhappy ballplayers in their time here. I honestly saw this and did not feel good watching either. Now Remy is the VOICE of the REDSOX. He should not be so blatant in his dislike for Manny. His comments started all of this. It started as a mole created by Manny and the owner and the Mountain was created by The Voice and spread to all the other media outlets without many original thoughts combined.

John Henry I totally respect what you are all about. If you are listening I speak for the core of REDSOX NATION. We are not cows who folow the VOICE(s). We love Manny and want to be a part of his 600th home run. Please renew his 2009 contract in the best interest of the team and fans. Give the guy a hug and a bomus of some great car if you win the 2008 World Series. If he knows that he will run through the left field wall. You know yourself, it is not about the money sometimes. Take Scott Boras out of the picture and renew and make us all happy!

Posted by Tedyaznomar July 30, 08 04:10 PM