A Manny with no plan

It's not nice to revel.

Maybe he can be a roadie for Phish's upcoming tour? Or maybe get some IT work for LiveNation's server farm?

It's only a matter of time before the Yanks appear. No brainer for them. I'd actually like to see him go there but only if they pay him less than $20M per. There has to be some karma in the end, no?

Anyone here think the Yankees are really going to start the season with an OF of Damon, Melky, and Nady? Seriously?

Ummm... Eric? You're a sportswriter? Do your homework buddy. The Yankees can't sign another Type A free agent. They've already signed 3 and under the current rules are not allowed to sign another.

EW: Ummm...Dave?

"Because of an exception granted, the Yankees -- or any other team -- can sign as many as eight Type A or Type B free agents this season, a top baseball official said on Friday."

http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090130&content_id=3785640&vkey=news_nyy&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy

Love this article, expressed how many of us feel about the despicable quitter. Manny is either going to the Mets or the Yanks. Bank on it.

Manny to the Yanks? They'd have to build an even bigger clubhouse for all of those heads to fit in there. And the stadium is brand new.

The only way for Manny to save face after the paycut he is going to have to take is to go to the Yankmees and spend the entire summer with the Sox in his crosshairs. In fact, I could see him going to the Yanks at the League MInimum just to pounce on Bostonfor fun. What better way to take a pay cut than an obserd paycut with one and only one purpose- to stick it to the Sox.

Ummmm...Eric?

You're one step ahead of me. Apologies.

I don't see Manny in NY unless there is some unloading of payroll. Both NY teams are feeling the pinch of the economy. The Yankees are facing the wrath of local politicians and the media for spending millions of free agents while the taxpayers are asked to give more and more subsidies for the new stadium.

The Mets are getting creamed with the $400 million Citi naming rights deal in jeopardy and the Wilpon family loses at the hands of Madoff.

As a sox fan, I would be overjoyed to see Manny go to the Bronx. Would the Yankees then ask for MORE public money for their new yard??

Manny will be in LF for the Yanks come opening day. He will accept 2 years 45 mil from NY. The opportunity to play for his hometown team, not to mention getting back at the RS will motivate him

While i can not possibly imagine what better deal Manny will get than the offers hes gotten from the Dodgers, or a much better place for him to play for that matter, you guys are really into kicking him when hes down. Yeah he was poisonous last year, but do you remember the years before that? he may never have been the greatest teammate but he did happen to be a KEY member of two world series teams. I think any team that bites the bullet and signs him will find themselves playing into October

I think it will be hilarious to see this guy sitting around waiting for a team to offer him anything while their spring training workouts start. And when he finally does get signed, will he arrive with all the usual fanfare and declare to the media that he is ready to play and hopes to finish his career in (insert insane city here)?

Eric...Eric....where are you? We need a snappy come back.

Where else is Boras going to go with this?!? "Start spreading the news..." Manny in pinstripes is nearly a forgone conclusion.

Wouldn't gloat - I see the Yankees in the rear view mirror. They'll sign him because no one else can...or will.

call me stupid, but offering $25 mil for one year to anyone to do what???
work maybe 8 mos. of the year???

I dont know, maybe Manny should go to Iraq for a few months and see what real men do for a living!!!

Why not bring Nomar home??? Clutch bat off the bench, multi-positioned. Why not let him be a Sean Casey type who backs up 3rd for a recovering third baseman. It would be a hit story. BRING NOMAH HOME!

Manny will take the Canadian dollar and become a Blue Jay, just like Roger Clemens. Manny has negotiated that Wally the Green Monster must accompany him as his personal water gopher while playing outfield.

Manny has a plan. He wants more money than he is worth and the Yanks deserve him, so I hope they get him. All ego - no sense of what it means to be part of a team. He will fit right in. Would be some interesting clash of egos among Manny, A-Rod, Jeter and company.

So far so good on this big baby of a fool. He had 40 mil he could have had from the Sox but that wasn't good enough. He switched agents for a reason but so far it turns out to be a bad one. It was Boras that told this fool to go to the plate in NY with the bases loated, 2 outs & just rest the bat on his shoulder. He made no attempt to even foul a pitch. His team mates should have given him a blanket party the minute he walked in the locker room. This way he walks with a REAL bad leg and he will remember which one it is. He screwed his team mates & his team and every GM out there knows it. For what he did last year the commissioner should have suspended him for a year. Maybe he will learn something in humility now.

Posted by Ed Washburn February 3, 09 10:21 AM

Excellent piece and your closing statement couldn't have been any better... Banner Job!! Boras is slowly ruining the game, with a rare combination of greed and ego that looks to be unsurpassed. Remeber this Boras...pigs get fate but hogs get slaughtered....Fortunuately there ares till players like Youk, Dustin, pape that still play for the love of the game and as such have a sense of reality when it comes to fair and equitable.

Personally, I don't see Manny without a job for 2009, but on the same side, I don't see the Stankees spending the big bucks he's asking for. Who's knows...it's all just speculation and for now I will take comfort in knowing that somewhere Boras is dreaming up a scenario whereManny get's $60M over 2 years....Dream on!!

Heck I see the Yankees not in the rear view mirror, but pulling up alongside us. Let's just hope that a few of their superstars get injuries. I know it's not nice to wish for injury, but...wouldn't it be great if they get Manny and then his hamstring gives out...for real this time?

I hear the Worcester Tornadoes offered him two years/$24,000. Maybe he should look into that. They might be willing to go more than two years.

It is interesting that a guy who had 55 rbi's in 52 games, added another 6,000+ butts per game in Dodger Stadium, who ignited the "Dodger Blue" passion again isn't getting a multi year offer from them. All the fawning over how great he was and how happy he was in LA and how he was responsible for taking a medicore team to the NBL Championship series to be offered only a one year contract. I guess people in baseball are smarter than I thought.

Couldn't agree more. But let's not overestimate the intelligence of some GMs. Colletti thought signing Andruw for $18 million a year was a good idea when everyone with a brain knew he was sliding badly both in the field and at the plate.. Then there is Brian Sabean who thought giving Zito $126 millon was smart when even your average fan knew that Zito was a middle of the rotation guy at best. And he's not even that. Brilliant move.
And how about Reagins at the urging of renowned talent evaluator Arte Moreno, signing a 4th OFer who had one good year for $55 million and even worse signing an overrated Torii Hunter for $90 million over 5 years who's best years are clearly behind him. Then renting Teixeira for 2 months and giving up Kotchman
was another genius move since everyone except the Angels apparently knew Teixeira wasn't going to stay on the west coast.
The point is that while Boras may be slime, he's still a lot smarter than some of
these brain dead GMs.

Manny will have to show up at spring training late no matter where he goes. He's going to be the Celtics mascot for the remainder of the year. He'll have to babysit Marbury.

There are more important things in baseball than playing in October, hard as that is for some fans to believe. Baseball players are heroes and role models for millions of kids in this country, and it is far more important for a player to be a model citizen and teammate, to have a high level of integrity and a sterling work ethic, and to display outstanding sportsmanship while still leaving it all on the field.

In other words, for the good of our society, I'd take Dustin Pedroia, Jason Varitek and Tim Wakefield over the likes of Manny, A-Rod and Barry Bonds any day.

If he does go to the Yanks, he'll have to cut his hair - not just the "trim" that Torre let him get away with in LA. And it would indeed be fun to watch the hard-nosed Joe Girardi try to deal with him. I predict frequent Billy Martin / Reggie Jackson style contretemps in the dugout for all the world to see.

But one thing I won't miss: the annual "Manny watch" come spring training.

Realistically, despite all the drama, who wouldnt want Manny coming back and hitting behind Papi? He was an important bat, a huge emotional liability, but nonetheless he did help us win 2 Championships. If somehow some miracle happened and he fixed his attitude and came back... would any of you REALLY be dissapointed??I know I wouldnt.

If the Yankees sign him, it will show that Hank and Hal, and not Brian Cashman, are in charge. Once Teixeira took the extra Benjamins to go to NY, he screwed up Manny's chances to land there. Boras has had a very up-and-down past couple of years - his free agent stunt with ARod cost him tens of millions of dollars, he did get Tex and DLowe great deals, misjudged the market for Varitek (BTW - why should the Red Sox give him a loyalty bonus when he was looking for the highest pay day available) and appears to have misjudged the market for Manny. I still don't believe he told Manny to act out the way he did - it looks like that's come back to bite him.

Nice article Eric, it says what everyone is thinking, but I really must ask: What proof do you have that Boras encouraged and implored Manny to throw a hissy fit to get out of his option years. Where are your sources? We all hate Boras but this is quite serious claim to make in passing without any proof. So I ask, where are your sources?

Can't you hear it now, Joe Girardi" Manny you need to get a haircut to play on the Yankees."
Manny "I told Joe (Torre) last year I get a trim, but I hit so well because of the hair man.

LOL- That would be a dream Manny in pinstripes.

I would love to see Manny in pinstripes. The Yankees are hated by Red Sox fans as it stands, had Manny to their roster then can you imagine the atmosphere at Fenway? Every game Manny would clearly know just how much he is adored here in New England. The boo's and cat calls will be heard in the Bronx, but maybe not in Manny's huge head. He won't understand how we can be so disgusted with him. But please put him in pinstripes, it sure will add to the fire between the two teams as if it needs anymore fuel to spike the fire.

Maybe just maybe.... Manny applies for Obama's unemployment relief....thank goodness, Theo DUMPED his lazy/greedy butt last year!.......I smile watching Bay play left field and come up to bat....thx Theo.

Here's a player that still does not get it. His Actions in Boston have resounded much more than he thought. You would expect a SANE person to accept the 1 year contract and be a model player to get everyone to forget what a Tool he was. Maybe taking a year off will put some sense in him, but after insulting the Dodger's first offer, and now rejecting the second offer, who is going to sign him up. Little Kharma is just what the doctor ordered.

Manny is Stupid Stupid Stupid.....welcome to the Scott Boras club of idiots! Manny come on down and join Jason Varitek!

Eric? Do you even read the sports pages? What "two more years in Boston and $40 million" did Manny and Boras turn down? There was no way the Red Sox were going to pick up Manny's option this year -- regardless of his performance in 2008. That's why Manny wanted out in 2008!

I hate to burst your bubble but the Yankees are smarter then that. Manny isn't Yankee material. The Yankees have a history of paying lots of money to players who are above average hitters, play decent defense, and can handle the media. As with all teams there have been exceptions, Ed Whitson, Jeff Weaver to name two. And I'm sure there are a few more. But not alot of them.
Manny's not worth the headache.
And consider this, with the economic climate what it is, consider how Manny is going to play and act when he has to accept a contract that he feels isn't worthy of him.
My guess is the Mets for two. maybe three years or the Dodgers for two.

"Get back at Boston" for WHAT?

For paying him 20 million a season for 8 years? For putting up with his unprofessional conduct? For cheering his every move, only to have him announce every other year that he hated Boston and wanted to be traded? For spoiling and indulging him, tolerating an attack on an employee that would get any other player released (ask Shawn Chacon) and then, rather than suspending him for breaking his basic agreement by faking injuries, giving him EXACTLY what he wanted by paying his salary so he could go to a conntender and show what he could do when he was "comfortable" and become a hero to the values-warped, celebrity-worshipping Angelinos?

The fact that Manny might regard this kind of treatment as a reason for revenge is WHY no team wants to commit to the guy. It's like making friends with a scorpion.

I'd love to see him sit out the year.

The unfortunate fact is that he will be in a Yanks uniform and with all that fire power will kicking our butts this season....let's get real and prepare for the inevitable.

This has got to be the baseball version of dumb and dumber. I can't decide which wins. The Dodgers, for offering a quitter with no other offers $25 million or a quitter with no other offers turning down $25 million.

Hate to say it, but mark my words...the Yanks are gonna go the extra mile and get him. Might as well hand them Manny on a silver platter. I sure as hell hope that doesn't happen.....the guy deserves NOTHING for playing the malcontent role last year to get out of a $40 million contract. He deserves nothing - PERIOD. Why reward such an arrogant ass?

i love it, i love it, i love it!!!

what i don't love, is that this man will have to "settle for maybe something in the $15-20M range if he wants an extended contract....I won't make $15M in my lifetime or my kids lifetime...oh well.

Manny's a New Yorker? Maybe that explains the heavy accent? He might live there, but he's not from NY. I don't care where the spoiled brat goes, he faked illnesses and injuries, ignored all charity requests, and then told the Dodgers to go to hell with 2 offers. He and Boras are a heck of a pair, and deserve to get NOTHING. And that is what I hope happens. No one is making this guy an offer because no one wants to put up with Manny being Manny.

Much as I wish like heck I agreed with the premise of this article: that Manny is going to have to take his medicine, I just think Manny to the Yankees makes too much sense. They are sitting quiet waiting in the weeds and without the Red Sox to offer a real bid on the guy, there's absolutely no real competition. Who wouldn't drop $45 Mil for a couple of years of Manny in that lineup when you print your own money like the Yankees do? Heck, if I were them I'd give Manny a 3 year, $70M take it or leave it offer and be done with it. In fact, that's what I'm sure will happen. As much of a pain in the arse as he is, there's no denying what he still brings offensively.

Don't be depressed that you're unemployed, Manny. This is just "Boras being Boras." Zing!

I REALLY CAN'T BELIEVE the amount of people that want to see Manny go to the Yankees... does anyone know how badly he will torch our team and the league for that matter in that yank lineup. Any sox fan that "wants" to see that is either a masochistic fool caught up in hot stove lunacy, or an amnesia patient with no recollection of how good this guy can hit. Look, we all know it is a staple of Red Sox culture to not slam but smash the door on a player's way out of town (not unlike what Michael does to Kay in Godfather 2) and lord knows Manny was far from perfect and very much a distraction toward the end but really come April do you honestly want Manny in the AL East.. this is a guy that murders the ball and in my opinion when dialed in (especially in the playoffs) could be the best right-hander hitter in the game. scary. The Red Sox already suffer from a lack of power at the plate and "fans" want to add Manny to Yanks??

Manny could have had $40M from the Red Sox. If he signs at $45M for 2 years with some other team, he pays Boras 5%, for net pay of $42.75. The only real winner is Boras who pockets an extra $2.25M. Was it really worth while for Manny to go through this circus for a 7% raise???? Obviously this was not a rational decision on his part. He really didn't need the gas money.

Borass said the bidding for Manny, the quitter, malcontent crybaby, would start at 5 years, $100MM and 4 years, $48-52MM, for the rally killer/automatic out Varitek. It does appear that most GM's in baseball haven't gone completely insane. I don't care if that jerk, Manny, hit 100 HR's a year, I would never want him as a teammate. He's so into himself and he committed extortion last year in Boston. Let him sit out a year waiting for a multiyear contract. Borass looks like a buffoon and why players hire him is above my paygrade. I guess $20MM for one year isn't enough for that bum, Ramirez. I also think $5MM is way too much for Varitek. He's done.

To the guy suggesting the return of Nomar ... are you serious? We already have enough injury risks on this team as it is. And to the guy claiming how "smart" the Yankees are because they value players who "play decent defense" ... you have one (Tex), maybe two (CF?) above-average defenders in your 2009 starting lineup. That's it. Manny could only help you in the field!

Manny and Nomah back in Boston!!!

DO IT!!!!

I GUARANTEE that the Yankees sign Manny. The only questions are when, for how much and for how long.

I've been saying it for months and still believe it: Manny will be a San Francisco Giant. The franchise has a history of dealing with prima donna outfielders and a fanbase rallies behind them. Their stadium was privately financed so ticket sales are huge for the team on a yearly basis and Giant fans are willing to pay to see a spectacle more so than a winning team. Factor in a GM who is always desperate to make a splash (Barry Zito?) and the chance to stick it to the rival Dodgers and you'll be seeing Manny riding cable cars next season....

Couldn't agree with you more Hatty!

I am devastated...simply devastated....wow....

I agree, he'll end up with the Yanks. Even though they could've signed Barry Bonds or Sammy Sosa (who made it be known he's ready to play to no one's interest) for much less, they'll end up shelling out the big dough to Manny. It's inevitable. Then Joe Torre could get someone to write his next book on his year with Manny, how Manny wouldn't cut his hair, and how Joe disapproved of the circumstances of how he ended his stay with Boston. A slim volume maybe but good for some extra cash in these tough times. Everybody's a winner!

Inmonster, you're wrong. There is NOTHING more important in baseball than playing in October. There may be more important things in life than winning a championship, but in professional baseball, there is only one goal. Please stop applying your moral and ethical beliefs to what is effectively a job to a bunch of guys with athletic abilities way beyond yours and mine.

I think there is a verbal agreement with The Yankees on the table. As much as I hate to admit it , Manny will put The Yankees over the top. A-FRAUD - Tex and Manny will be a little too much for the league to handle. The Yankees have gone totally 'PIG' , I can't see them stopping now.

I love how everyone says "So manny can get back at the Sox!" ha Like the Sox did anthing to Manny. Manny is the chump and the Sox derserve the right to get back at him and the it seems to me the Sox will be the ones laughing in the end when this idiot gets nothing close to what he wants. :)

Boras has lost touch with the reality of the economic crisis. Yes, Texiera cashed in, but look around Scotty boy, the teams aren't spending big dollars for players in the twilight of thier careers. Once again, you have strong armed a player into declining a sizable deal because you think you can get him better. Of course "Manny-wood" still doesn't know what's going on. He's probably walking up and down Rodeo Drive looking for cowboys and horse shows. Idiot! Just retire and do us all a favor.

let's face it - it's fun to watch manny play. it would be even more fun to watch him quit on a new york team when he's needed !!

Are you kidding me.Can't you see what's going on here.It's all about merchandise sales! He moves to different clubs and makes millions in shirts,hats,not to mention the dreadlocks.He's not that dumb or is he? Maybe Scott Boras gets percentages of his earnings......LOL.........Actually,there's a little bit of Collusion going on here and it's about time..........I hope Manny does wind up in NYY.What a bizzare clubhouse that would be.It be worth it to see,even if the Yanks win it all.Talk about mayhem!......Gotta love this guy,crying "Nobody wants me"......This may be his last year.I think fans are tired of him..Bring on the Clown....

I'll admit that Manny and Boras got what they deserved but I have to say... what the hell people!!!! I'm willing to bet that the VAST MAJORITY of you piling on Manny on this blog today LOVED HIM when he was launching bombs over the Green Monstah and trotting around the bases behind Ortiz and company. I don't care what any of you say, that guy is one of the most feared bats in the history of the game and not having him in your lineup does not help you. Period! We all know what we get with Manny. It's been that way for at least 6 or 7 years. We better all get on our knees and PRAY he doesn't get signed by the Yankees. Because if he does, Dice - K and Beckett, and Buchholz, and Lester and everyone elsebetter better bring their A game!

Don't gloat yet, someone will sign Manny yet, and he will get his 3 years, $75 million minimum. Don't be surprised if the Yankees sign him. If the Yankees do sign him, the first time Manny comes up to face a Red Sox pitcher, a very high, very inside, and very hard fastball should be bee lined for his head. With his actions last summer in dogging it in order to get traded, Manny (and especially his agent) left a huge stain on the game. Making Manny taste the dirt to avoid a beanball to the side of the head would be poetic justice, but hardly enough payback for the damage done to the game.

Major league baseball has a marvelous opportunity to smash Boras and Ramirez in one stroke. By not signing MR on his terms, the league says "no mas" to reprobates, and probably mortally wounds Boras to boot. In the meantime, as a result of your own greed, stupidity and arrogance, how's it feel to have just lost out on tens of millions of dollars, jackass?

...and for the people celebrating and guffawing over the potential for Manny to have to settle for less..... Pull your head out of your a$$. If he settles for less over more years, it will be with one team only. Guess who?!

I'm glad people will finally get their "revenge(?)" when Manny inks a 3-year, $60mil deal with the Yankees, who will then win championships in 2 of the next 3 years, while stepping on the Sox to do so. Glad that will finally make people happy that he was forced out! Can't wait to see the smile on Theo's face then...

You'd think the idiocy of this move would have already been settled after the NL received its real MVP last season. Funny enough, Boston fans will delude themselves into thinking that ANYTHING is good for the team. Yeah, just ask those playoff pitchers how they're liking the Manny-less lineup!

All the Manny bashers are assuming that the Sox would have renewed the first option year.

I doubt that would have occured. Manny anticipated that.

So he chose to move on and forced the issue last summer.

If Manny wanted to screw the Sox, Teamates and Fans he would have played out 2008 then retired.

He's going somewhere in NY. If you're going to spend big in the Bronx, why not go all out with another $20-25m per to assure a ring? Or is it a sure bet? If they somehow failer to win a WS, Cashman is gone and the Yanks are laughing stocks. Mets make sense too. Why is Manny blind to the great fit in LA (the language, it's laid back and NL pitching)? He wanted out of Boston...what a child..

Hey Mike: He was poisonous last year, but remember before then. No one ever said Manny isn't a good hitter, but he's been poison for years. Showing kids how not to hustle, no involvement in the community, bad team mate, always suspected of not playing when he didn't feel like it. C'mon. Would you forgive someone who absued a family member because he was an alright person before the abuse occured. Manny is a no good, lazy jerk. A good hitter, but a black mark for the game of baseball!!

Reading some of the comments in here, I have to believe that players and players agents sign-in as regular Joe's to promote many counterintuitive moves that no rational person would ever promote.

I love all this talk about the "yanks firepower". Just how much better do you think the Yanks got this season? CC replaces the 20 wins they lost when Moose retired. Burnett is no better than ten wins (their new Pavano if you ask me) and Texiera, for all the hype, is not much better of an upgrade offensively (on base wise) than they lost by letting Abreu go. So, in the end, they upgraded their defense at first. Big Friggen Deal. They are still soft up the middle, and they still do not have the chemistry to get through (or to) the playoffs. The Yanks paid huge to be another third place team. I dont exacty shiver at the spector of the Bronx Bombers this year. Go ahead, sign Manny. More poison to an already toxic clubhouse of losers.

To all the Manny bahsers, it seems that you assume the Sox would have exercised the first of the option years. Doubtful and since Manny did not have a buyout clause why stick around.

Theo disliked Manny and what Manny represented. So it seems that Manny made a wise choice to get out of town.

If Manny wanted to screw the Sox, Team and Fans he would have played out 2008 and then retired. That meaans the Soxwould not have Bay.

PERFECT FIT WITH THE YANKEES....THEY CAN BALLOON THEIR PAYROLL INTO THE 220 MILLION RANGE WITH A BUNCH OF GREEDY DUBBAS!
I LIKE THE IDEA EVEN MORE PEOPLE WILL NOW HATE THE YANKEES!!! I MEAN NEW YORK IS WHERE THE STOCK MARKET AND THE BANKS GREED STARTED WHY NOT THEIR PRO BASEBALL TEAM TOO!!
MY NEW CAMPAIGN FOR NY IS - I HATE NEW YORK
PLEASE SIGN MANNY !!! IT WILL BE FUN TO WATCH ALL THOSE FAT HEADS TRY TO FIT IN ONE DUG OUT!!! LOOOOSERS!!

eric
be careful of being so glib. the baseball gods love to laugh and you are tempting them to seek revenge.

I feel Manny will be wearing pin stripes in 2009.

The whole notion that Manny needs to "stick it to the Sox" is totally absurd.

Stick it to them for what? For paying him $160 million for 8 years? For putting up with all of his selfish crap for almost that long? For allowing him to be loved unrequitedly by a fanbase he basically never appreciated--and even loathed at times?

Don't even bring up the "putting him on waivers" thing back in 2003---he ASKED them to do that, and even then, there were no takers because so many other teams realize what a childish headache this hitting savant can be.

Hey, he may very well go to the Yankees, hit 45 homers and "stick it to the Sox" all the way through October, but if that happens, if I read a single news article or column that declares it "retribution" for Manny against the Sox, I'm going to lose it.

To all you lunatics who keep saying you want to see Manny end up in NYC. Keep it to yourself. Why don't you just throw out all your Bo-Sox gear and go buy Yankees stuff? If he ends up in NY and we end up playing them in the playoffs, you'll all be peeing yourselves when he steps up to bat with RISP. Then you'll be puking as he passes home plate after just clearing the bases. Were any of you paying attention to what the man, I mean, the beast, did to the baseball while he was in L.A.??? Do you really want that in the Yankees lineup? C'mon mannnn.... be serious. I prefer to see him sit out a year and get fat!!

The Red Sox weren't going to exercise Manny's option. That is how this whole mess started, he wanted them to pick up both options and they wouldn't, they wanted to wait until the end of the year.

After all the times he asked to be traded and all the times the Red Sox tried to get rid of him, do you really think they were going to pick up either of his options? They weren't.

So he didn't "walk away from $40 million". He wasn't going to get it from the Red Sox.

And before everyone attacks me/ridicules me - I am NOT defending Manny's actions when he left, I'm simply stating the obvious.

No matter how you feel about the way the Manny situation was handled last year, all Sox fans at this point are annoyed with the guy as well as with Boras. So I understand taking some pleasure in seeing them now with nowhere to turn.

What I don't understand is why anyone here WANTS to see him on the Yankees. They're already huge favorites to win the AL East in the early going, and for good reason. You have to be completely out of your mind to think that Manny would actually hurt those chances. Remember when people thought he and Torre would clash in LA and then he almost single-handedly carried that team into the World Series? I'm not buying the "he'll be a strain on the clubhouse" thing one bit.

Sure, he might not be "worth" what they end up paying him given his age, but that's inconsequential for the Yankees. And with the way all other teams are avoiding spending money, the Yankees are definitely the most likely place for him to end up. It's fun to make fun of Manny, but be reasonable. No one get too excited yet.

More conjectural fancy footwork from the writers of boston.com. The people who brought you Mark Teixeira (in your dreams), who discussed at length the pros and cons of bringing back Derek Lowe as if the thin-skinned Sox management would even consider bringing someone back who had caused them even a millisecond of embarrassment, and who want you to think 5 million for Jason "Mendoza" Varitek is a steal. No, a steal is what someone like the fleet footed Kevin Millar will get off of Varitek this year standing up.

Mariano Rivera?

I can see Kevin Cash hanging with Manny...Good Times.

There is no doubt that the Yankees are on their knees crawling in there to make a last minute huge $ bid. And he would take it just so he could get even with the Red Sox!!

Love the borderline racists/intolerant comments on here... "he's a New Yorker? How do you explain that accent then? He's not from there." So if you immigrate to the US and live in NY from age 11 or 12 on, you aren't a New Yorker? The thousands of immigrants living in NY aren't New Yorkers? The thousands of immigrants in Boston aren't Bostonians, even if they've been here for 10, 20 years?

Wow.

Who cares. I am beyond over this jerk.
I was at a game last year sitting on the 3rd base line and these 2 young kids made an awesome poster of him that read "We love you Manny" . Tthey even used yarn to replicate the dreadlocks! All he did was give them a nasty look. These kids were like 4 and 5!
Let's face it, if he wasn't playing baseball he would be washing cars.

Did you all hear that BUMP!

That was me laughing so hard I fell off my chair.

good job wilbur!!....this is all so precious!! manny a yankmee?......what a circus (zoo?) that would be...is the new Yankmee clubhouse big enough to fit the egos of Texeria, A-Fraud and Manny? ....does left field at the stadium have a urinal behind left field?...looking at the bright side (of the economy going down the toilet with my 401K) is the situation with Tek and Manny and Boras.....almost as fun as watching a game

I still can't get my head around how stupid this man (Manny) is. How stupid and how greedy he is. He could have been remembered as one of the greatest Red Sox players ever! But he through it all away for more money when he already has more than he knows what to do with! Yes he is one of the greatest hitters ever in baseball and yes he was a big part of 2 WS Championships in Boston but the man does nothing for charity, that I have read anyway, he quit on his teammates which is one of the worst things you can do as a player, and he just doesn't seem to care if he looks like a greedy, self-centered it's all about me person. Some great players have ruined their baseball legacy through steroids but Manny has ruined his through greed. I hope the Yankees have enough class not to sign this guy .... but I have my doubts! By the way .... good article E.W.

I hope the Yanks do pick up Manny, maybe give him three years and $75 million. Watching that team lose will drive Yankee fans to hurl themselves out of those nice new upper level seats onto the field. Girardi can write about the experience after they fire him.

just like the bbq grill and antique tricked out car now Manny's urinal from LF Fenway is up on E-Bay. Urinal cakes not included.

I just came from Denny's, getting my free breakfast today. Sat beside Manny.

Pin Stripes for Manuel Ramirez.

2 year

Cashman.

Manny - my over 30 beer drinking softball team needs a middle outfielder. You are welcome anytime. We play Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning in May. You can high five the crowd, leave mid inning to take a leak behind the wall, leave uncashed checks valued at hundreds of thousands of dollars in your car and jog to first on routine grounders (we all do that anyway because we are fat and lazy like you). Have Boras call me at 1800 555-5525.

It is, in fact, nice to revel.

i wish manny the best. those two WS trophies wouldn't be here without him

Gotta be the Yankees - I've been saying it all winter -there's no one else left with that kind of dough. But, when (not if) he does sign with NYY, if the contract is for less than the $25M per year LA offered, I want to see some kind of reverse-collusion charge against Boras.

Wally the Green Monster says Hi

Hard to Imagine a Dumber fan then one hoping your opposition gets better !! Well, maybe there is one, a fan getting paid to be a writer !! Anybody that hopes the Yankmes sign Manny just don't get it and Maybe never will !! Many of these morally overdosed idiots are probably jumping up and down every time Randy Moss catches a ball or licking their chops at the possibilty that the Celts will land Marberry. Like many fans of the Sox, who would actually like to see them win a few more Championships, I knew it was time for Manny to go, I just didn't want him going to the Yankmes, especially for LESS then what the Sox were going to pay !! Here's hoping that someone other then the Yankmes Signs Manny and soon, My heart can't take much more !!

Go Sox 2009 !!

Red Sox World Series score card :

Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski, Jim Rice, Carlton Fisk, Fred Lynn = 0
Manny Ramirez = 2

Ok Great News BUT, WE DO NOT WANT Manny ON THE YANKEES!
Yea we all know he was a pain in the butt. Let's never forget this is the premier hitter in baseball.

When will these players learn that Scott Boras does NOT have their best interests in mind? These two examples (manny and varitek) should be enough to have this agent unemployed for the next 5 years. But most of these players aren't even educated, and only see $$$, so boras will continue doing what he does best: screwing the players and the fans, and lining his pockets.

Hey JoeAverage .... I hear what your saying about sources being important but I disagree to an extent. Whether E.W. had sources or not that confirmed Boras instructed Manny to throw a hissy fit to get traded is irrelevant. Although Boras isn't looking real smart these days everyone knows that he orchesrtated the fiasco and pulled the strings on his man/child puppet "Manny". Manny is simply not smart enough to think of that charade he pulled to get himself out of his contract and out of Boston so he could reap the benefits of all of these glorious offers he and Boras are mulling over.

Last August while in Los Angeles we decided to buy tickets for an LA Dodgers game and to be honest, to see Manny, who we still missed. We were also pleasantly surprised by the ticket prices and the terrific seats (ten rows up between third base and home) we had for what in Boston would have been next to nothing (maybe high bleachers)in Boston. To our amusement, many of the fans had on Manny wigs with dreads
Manny came up, took off his hat and waved to the fans and hit a single. The fans went crazy. Then the whole stadium chanted Boston Sucks, Boston Sucks, Boston Sucks. We were horrified, picked up our gear and got the hell out of there seething. These people had no clue as to what this guy is like. . Needless to say, they know now.

I for one would love to see manny go to the yanks. If he thinks clemens threw up and in .. wait till I see him!!!!!!!!!!!

What Scott Boras and Manny Ramirez failed to take into consideration was that when the slugger pulled his job action in Seattle last July--with Manny being the puppet and Scott being the puppeteer--everyone in major league baseball was watching this. What? They think everyone's stupid? His knees hurt and he wants on the DL--15 games? And the MRI comes back "he's clean"--says Tito? Then Manny goes out to L.A. and the Sox are so-o-o-o-o- glad he's gone that they pay the remainder of his 2008 salary. They don't care that Manny puts up Ruthian figures for two months--they'd seen it before--and now Boras/Ramirez want 6/150? Ain't gonna happen. I can't wait until Boras sidles up to Brian Cashman and begs for the "hometown discount." If Boras thinks that he's going to get Mark Teixeira money for a guy ten years older, it'll be a pleasure to watch this soap opera play out. The best thing about all this is that Boras has, perhaps, unmasked himself at last as an incompetent agent--he was disingenuous with John Henry in the Tex negotiations, he was stupid in the Tek negotiations, and he's going to come up empty in the MBM negotiations. Pitchers and catchers next week!

TORRE AND HIS BORING DODGERS ARE SCREWED IF MANNY DOESN'T SIGN WITH THEM. THEY LOST THEIR #1 AND #2 STARTERS THIS OFF-SEASON. MANNY WAS THE REASON PEOPLE IN LA WENT TO DODGER GAMES EARLY AND LEFT LATE. TORRE IS SCREWED WITHOUT HIM.

I hope the yanks sign him. Then all their high profile signings will be a waste of time. Too many divas in the clubhouse and this guy would be the worst. It would make for great locker room chemistry.

Scott Boras overestimated the market, plain and simple. In the post steroids era, players are declining quickly and you never know when a 37 year old slugger will just fall off the table. No way anyone in their right mind is going to commit more than two years (and that's a stretch) to Manny. Also, his clubhouse reputation is much bigger a factor than either of them thought. Lots of money lost, lots of credibility lost, and lots of good story lines for the hot stove league.

Manny and Jason may just win this year's Jody Reed Award.

Primma Donna Watch:
Will Manny, Nomar, Pedro play anywhere in 2009 besides their backyard?

Let's see how well the jokes and reveling will go over by July when it becomes apparent that that the sox will have to fight hard for 3rd place with a jacked up choirboy Manny in the Bronx.

He is going to the yankees....playing out just as Texeira did......I don't think there will be enough room in that clubhouse between jeter and manny....Can you see Jeters response the first time Manny pulls out his cell phone on Legends Row in the middle of a game

"Maybe St. Louis doesn't have the money to sign him, but he could give them a discount because St. Louis is a great city that supports its players."

Are you kidding me? Substitute Boston for St Louis and you can say he had that for his whole time in Beantown, PLUS 40 Million on the table.

Looks good on him. Not to mention he has probably lost the chance of having his number ever appearing in RF at Fenway. Telling fact of that is no one has worn 14, 21 or 26 since those players left town but the Sox are rumoured to be giving the #24 to Saito after he requested 44(Bay) and then 29(Smoltz).

Nikkan is reporting that Takashi Saito may be getting Manny Ramirez's No. 24. Saito wore No. 44 for the Dodgers last season but that is Jason Bay's number in Boston. Saito's next choice was No. 29, but that just went to John Smoltz. His other request was for No. 24, and "[Red Sox] seemed OK with me taking that number,"

Manny is a freak'n idiot and Boras is a bigger idiot. I'm predicting that Boras will start to loose clients and Manny will end up with the Mets with a 3 year $70M contract....

Well, I guess I'm one of those reformed Manny lovers. It used to be that watching him bat on TV was pure joy--you know, when he'd get that gleam in his eyes and it was a done deal that he'd then smack the ball to the moon and back? But he's not a role model, and will never be the kind of guys that Youkilis and Pedroia are, two men who love baseball and are grateful they can play the game and be paid well enough. Regardless of the outcome in October, I'd rather watch a team chock full of players with character, like we have with our Red Sox, than one that is riddled with doodleheads like Manny.

This couldn't happen to a nicer pair of greedy morons.

I'd love to see Manny go to the Bronx. And the first time he comes to bat in Fenway, Beckett puts a two seamer right in his earhole.

That is what the gready criminal deserves.

There is no doubt in my mind that Manny will be a Yankee when all is said and done. The Yankees cannot bear to see a top-tier free agent go to another team, especially one that meant so much to the Sox for so many years. They will wait until the time, terms, and price are right and then swoop in and scoop him up in their customary fashion. BorAss knows the Yankees are the only cash cow available that will give Manny the contract he wants and he will finagle a way to save face and get Manny a decent contract in NY.

Who is anybody kidding? The Dodgers are going to add a year, and go two years, $50 million.

BRING MANUEL RAMIREZ BACK IMMEDIATELY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BRING BACK MANNY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ITS JUST MANNY BEING MANNY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

IMMEDIATELY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey Headline Writer,
it should have read, "A Manny with No Planny?"

Post #55 is dead on. I agree with everything you say Dana. If OJ had better knees and could get out of his contract with the Nevada Correctional Double A Striped Pajamas he'd be a great draw in SF. Yes Manny will be riding cable cars and jay walking in SF this summer.

Manny is greedy and cheap. He spent $400 on drinks at club Aria in Boston and gave the waittress $0 tips. The gm at the club framed the receipt to show how cheap Manny is.

I bet that Manny can sign in Japan for 4 years, 100 million Yen.

prediction - Yankees offer 3 years $66M and ink Manny

I know many are reveling right now BUT the offseason isn't over... a lot of this is premature until we actually see what deal Boras get Manny. He missed w/ Tek ($10M ) but he didn't overestimate the market for Teixeira! ($180M). He's still coming out way ahead...

The Yankees are still below last year's payroll. I'm guessing if the Dodgers go too low, the Yankees grab him - it will be structured so Manny can say he got the $100M deal he wanted (2 years $25M with 2 years club options or something like that)

Pardon my schadenfreude, but does anyone have a clue as to the amount and severity of the bitter tears cried by the Dodgers punters? Remember the 'tee-heeing' that went on last summer...and us poor schlubs who tried to warn them?

"I love (insert team here)....I wanna retire here...I want my numba on the wall..."
Ha ha ha....we told you so. And now ManRam and Borass have denied LA a second time...

Paul,

Manny can hit and we did love it when he knocked the ball out of the park but that does not mean we loved it when he caused the problems he did last year while being paid what he was being paid.

Simply put, that was a betrayal. We supported him through his antics and defended him and even sheltered him by wrapping our loyalty around him as critics across the country mocked him, called him a lousy fielder, a loafer, a nut, etc.

He delivered great memories and clutch hits. We showered him with affection. It was a beautiful relationship.

However, his decisions that led to his departure obviously discounted that relationship and our support. Fine. That was his decision - to force his way out.

In return, we who supported him have the same right to change our view of Manny based on how he handled himself.

If he winds up playing against us, so be it. He's just one aging baseball player who can still hit a ball hard, but he's not ours anymore - on any level. I hope someday he'll be able to come back and be given the sort of Fenway reception that other great Red Sox have been given over the years. He certainly deserves to be remembered for the good things he did to contribute to the wins.

I am fearful, however, that his situation and the attitude that has been tied to it may prevent the goodwill from taking place within a decade or longer after he retires - if ever.

The immediate future aside - that's the damn shame of this whole episode.

If the Yankees wanted to deal with Manny's B.S., they would have signed him already. Boston fans need to get over their pinstripe phobia. Boras and Manny have to get over the delusion that someone is going to give a 36-year-old ballplayer with a tremendous amount of baggage a deal longer than 2 years.

I have greatly mixed emotions on this subject. There is a giant part of me that as a Red Sox fan is laughing at Manny and his idiot agent for the boat that they are in right now. My anger as a Red Sox fan, however, is not directed at Manny Ramirez. Yes of course his behavior and the literal temper tantrum he threw to get himself out of town was ridiculous, childish, obnoxious, stupid, insert any adjective of choice. However, did we ever see anything like this before Scott Boras came into the picture where Man Ram is involved. Yes of course Manny was always quirky, enigmatic, he'd always do something crazy throughout the course of the season but eventually he'd get his annual "come to Jesus" meeting with either Tek or Papi and they would tell him that he essentially needs to keep doing what he does on the field and try to keep the off field drama to a minimum. Manny was ADORED in the city of Boston. He was revered with the type of respect that people don't even afford our Governor and other elected officials for the simple fact that with that bat in his hand he is an idiot savant and there was no pitcher he couldn't wear out and he was quite simply the most feared hitter in the game. To quote Tito Francona: "Great hitter, Manny hits everybody. You know even if he's 0-4 with 3 strikeouts, he's the last person the opposing pitcher wants to see standing in that box with the game on the line." Quite well put and it's true. As much as we want to blame Manny (and believe me there is plenty of blame to go around in this situation) the true villian here is none other than Scott Boras. He made sure that Manny was well aware that if his options were picked up by the Sox at the end of 08 (which was a no brainer) then ole Scotty wouldn't get dime one. I have NO DOUBT in my mind that Manny Ramirez would ever do what he did here last year were it not for Boras. His sole motivator is greed. I believe it was Pedro Martinez who said something to the effect of...say what you will about Manny and that he's crazy but I promise you in all my years in this game there is nobody who wants to win more than Manny Ramirez. So Manny if you read this (which I know you won't) this is a plea from one of your all time biggest fans. Get rid that idiot Boras. What has he done for you? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. Pick up the phone call John Henry and say look man, I screwed up and I screwed up big time last year. My heart is in Boston I know I can help bring another championship to the team. I want to come back and put that #24 uniform on again and play in front of the greatest fans in the greatest park for the greatest organization in the game and I want to go into the Hall of Fame as member of the Red Sox. I know it's wishful thinking but there's nothing that would thrill me more than to pull out my Manny Ramirez #24 road jersey (which I will wear no matter what) and wear it to see you play for my beloved Red Sox again. Just once Manny just one time, do the right thing lose the heartless agent, come home and help lead us to your third world championship.

The only person in the Mets front office who wants Manny is Minaya. The Wilpons have lost a fortune this year and it will take a hard sell for that to happen. I'm sure Manny is so clueless that he doesn't know that the country is in an economic crisis.......Boras might want to clue him in. If the Yankees do sign him Posada will be sitting on the bench a lot more than usual and he won't be happy.

By my count there are about 20 people posting here who either think the Red Sox were wrong for getting rid of Manny or think we should sign him back.
I believe Boston.com has an obligation to provide the email addresses of these individuals to the proper authorities so they can be institutionalized.asap.

Manny will get the last laugh whether in LA, NY, or wherever. No one on this board will in their lifetimes make the kind of money Manny will make in the next one or two years, yet you all think you are smarter than he is. That goes for you too Wilbur. As if you have any sources or insight into Boras's dealings.

I was a Manny apologist, but I grew tired of him and am disgusted with the way he shot himself out of town. That, however, doesn't mean a thing. Manny will end up getting $20+ million to play BASEBALL this year, which is exactly why he doesn't care what a bunch of bulletin board posters think.

To all of you who think Manny will sign with the Yankees
Damon, Jeter, Teixeira,Arod,Matsui,Posada,Nady,Cano, and Gardiner or Cabrera
Who needs Manny.
Who needs the headache.
Think about what your sugguesting.
Manny in the same town as the New York Post.
They don't need him. If they hadn't got Tex I could see it, maybe.
No way. It will never happen
I could posibly see the Mets only cause they need the offense and with the headline grabbing Yankees on the other side of town it might work. But if it ain't the Mets, it's gotta be the Dodgers. I also don't buy the idea of the Giants. After all the headaches that Bonds broght them why would they dive in with another head case. Plus they have limited resourses. I'm with the other guy, Id love to see him have to sit out just to stick it to him and his attitude and especially to Boras., the arrogant @#$@#%$%

Manny for the Yankees would be great (for us!).
Besides turning routine pop-ups into singles and line-outs into doubles (doesn't he cost a team 40+ fielding runs per season), he would be tremendous fodder for the tabloids.
Oh, wait. He would take the pressure and center-of-attention off of A-Rod which wouldn't be good.

BACK NOW!!!

Bring that Man back immediately!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After all the money Frank McCourt stole from us while he had Joe Moakley in his back pocket, I hope the Dodgers sign Manny for $60 mil-and finish 60 games out of 1st

You forgot an important point..... Borass is still a financial winner here. Manny's last contract was signed while he was with his former agents. Borass got nothing if the Sox had exercised the option. At 5%, even at the ame money, Borass earns a cool $1,000,000 per year. Only Manny loses. The money he's so generous with and though less important than the money to him, he's lost whatever integrity he might have had.

Red Sox World Series score card :
Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski, Jim Rice, Carlton Fisk, Fred Lynn = 0
Manny Ramirez = 2

Off the top of my my head in a Red Sox uniform
Ted Williams played in the 46 WS, Yaz in 67 and 75,Rice in 75 (out with an injury) and 86, Fisk in 75 (remember that?), and Lynn in 75

If you mean winning the World Series, come out and say it.

Way to go Bore Ass, this is a match made in heaven, what goes around always comes around.

Yankees must be waiting for all the shoes to drop on this one before making an offer ... the Power of Revenge Compels You, Manny, to Behave... like a normal, well-adjusted human being who is grateful for his ridiculous good fortune and a bank account already bulging at the seams. Image the Yankee line-up. Pitch around A-Rod to get to Manny? Pitch around Manny to get to Teixeira? It won't be pretty. If Cano and Nady have good years, it's a Yankee beatdown on the so-called competition. The Yankees can use their pitching coach as middle relief and it won't make a dent in the number of blow-outs they inflict on the rest of baseball.

Ha ha!

Yankees are just sitting back, watching the market or lack thereof.

When Boras and Ramirez get desperate, the Yankees will swoop in.

Guaranteed.

Seriously Wilbur, drink the Red Sox Kool-Aid harder. Boras has clearly been a moron, and he should not be spared. That said, I love how all these sportswriters seem to line up and just regurgitate the Sox story.

Well, if Theo says Manny's a bad guy then it must be true. If he was really such a jerk this whole time then why didn't the media report that story? Either they did a terrible job then, or they're doing a terrible job now.

Frankly, you're gloating is despicable.

This is a LOT more fun than watching the Varitek saga play out.

You Red Sox jagoffs act like you don't pay a lot for your players. Sorry you got burned by Texiera!

Go Rays; we look forward to sending your crying asses back to Boston

Of course the idea of playing in a World Series is to win. Ted, Yaz,Jim, Fred and Carlton seemed not to have done.

Maybe Captain Jason can hit behind David

The Yanks can't sign Manny

The Yankees have already signed 3 top tier free agents, they gave up a 1st rounder for C.C.. a 2nd rounder for A.J., and a 3rd rounder for Tex. That means they can't sign any top tier free agents this year until after the draft.

Manny's only hopes are LA Dodgers, NY Mets, or SF at a severe discount. The only other team with the financial resources to sign Manny are the BOSOX, and we know that won't happen

Manny will end up on the Yankees. That's the only place that can deal with his behavior because their are bigger personalities there. Plus they love to just pound people with their offense so it makes sense. He'll go and he'll be happy for a year or so if he doesn't start getting hurt and then when he gets comfortable it will start all over again. He won't hit as well because I think Manny would realize he's not the best hitter on that team and loose interest. Think child, people.

Yankees will NOT sign Ramirez. A-Wad is a big enough headache/cancer in the clubhouse, there is no telling what these two will do in creating drama between each other...

Divas...

If Manny doesn't like the clubhouse in new York, and he may not, he will create lots of havoc in that clubhouse, and right now, that team has enough to worry about in terms of cohesiveness. I don't see it happenening.

Just to make sure I have been on this page, I checked my emails from after the trade and saw this in one I wrote after Manny homered for the Dodgers on August 3 or 4:

" If Manny makes $20 million over each of the next two years, the guy who pays it should have his head examined."

Apparently, there was one such owner who offered it, but need not seek the same psychiatric help that the people who declined that offer should get.

I hope Manny signs with an AL team for the pleasure of watching Beckett put a fastball into his ear. Every time he bats.

Hey Eric,
what you and your holier-than-thou-I'm so-damn-jealous-because-my-skills-can't-earn-me-millions-a-year buddies fail to grasp is one simple truth:
Professional athletes are gladiators in an arena. Personal conduct does not matter. Never did, never will.
Ted Williams spit on fans. Yaz is and always has been a chain-smoking class A jerk.
We the fans don't care. As long as they win. Just win baby. Give me 25 guys convicted of everything from tax evasion to murder. Just also give me a World Series title I can celebrate and brag about. This is sports, no more, no less.

It won't be a surprise to learn that Boras set-up Manny to take a huge paycut to land in pinstripes. He seems to have a knack for finding talented airheads to manipulate for his own gains. Manny is just a big, egotistical, whiny baby with raw talent, but Boras is plain evil. He uses ego-driven players as pawns in his chess game with big franchise baseball. I'm sure we'll read soon enough that Boras intentionally and knowingly screwed Manny over in an effort to encourage him to take a massive paycut to go to the Yankees. Then we'll hear that he took secret payouts from the Yankees for pushing big talent to their club. Not long after that, we'll find out that he is a long lost spawn of satan/George Steinbrenner.

OK, a new question to ponder here. Let's assume Manny goes to the Yankees. So when Manny comes up to bat for the first time, in Fenway, facing Beckett, the question is, "Will Josh drill him with a 96MPH fastball in between Manny's 6th and 7th ribs?"

I hope Manny blows all his money away like Mike Tyson and then have to WORK for a living for once in his life. Try "Manny Being Manny" thing here he will be showing the door in no time.

Manny will be playing left field or DHing for the Yankees on Opening Day 2009. He grew up in Washington Heights, not that far from the Bronx. Dislike the guy all you like, but this is not good for the Sox.

Donna,

I personally don't give a rat's a-- if Manny was or wasn't "involved in the community." Who said that sports figures had to be philanthropic? Are you? People who thinks professional athletes are supposed to be some kind of heroes just aren't very bright now are they, Donna?

Here's the recipe:

1. Threaten to sit out a year.
2. Use Tony Mazz as your public relations guy.
3. Remind people that you 'call a good game'

What is really holding Manny from a contract is HIS INABILITY TO ACY LIKE A MAN.

I'm constantly amazed by Manny supporters and their posts. On top of their failing altogether to see the outrageousness of his behavior last year, they want to revise history as well. To hear them say it, Manny routinely hit 55 HRs and had a .425 batting average each year. Let's just go back to 2007. During that year, he played 133 games (and not the full 162 because he took September off due to his chronically bad knee(s)). In 483 ABs, he hit 20 HRs, had 88 RBI, and finished with a .296 batting average. Do you really think that and his poor fielding is worth $20 mill or more?

When he signs with the Dodgers for 2 years @ 50 million can I come back here and say i told you so. Actually I'm not even the first to say that. I think another blogger already mentioned that amount of years @ 50 mil
You guys got pinstripes on the brain.
Not a chance.
Manny being Manny doesn't cut it with the Steinbrenners.
It didn't 30 years ago and it still doesn't.
Think football mentality.
I'm telling you not a chance

Eric Wilbur; stop hating! You drone.

I love this....getting back at the Red Sox?! All Boston did was give Manny endless love and a chance for two championships despite the temper tantrums and antics!

It is well documented that Manny is a bit aloof, for lack of a better word and it is obvious Boras is about as low a form of human that exists. It is a shame that other's who are close to Manny aren't telling him to ditch this scumbag and sign a contract. As much as most RS fans despise him, it would be a shame for Manny to miss part of or all of a season b/c he foolishly followed Boras' advice. Love him or hate him (and as long as he is not in pinstripes) I will never get tired of watching Manny's AB's.

Not that I'm a huge Manny fan, in fact quite the opposite but who the bleep is Scott B. working for??? I get the feeling that he is more interested in his cut and based upon that the players pass up better offers than they finally end up with (ex.: Varitek). You would think that they'd see the pattern and smarten up...

Bring Him BACK Pronto!!!

Immediately.

Like right NOW!

Joe you wrote:

"Manny will be in LF for the Yanks come opening day. He will accept 2 years 45 mil from NY. The opportunity to play for his hometown team, not to mention getting back at the RS will motivate him
Posted by Joe February 3, 09 10:23 AM"d

Tell me what exactly did the red Sox do to Manny? Please talk about something you might know about. This kid was a spoiled star and acted as such. He is getting treated exactly like he treated the Red Sox. With no respect. Please move on.

Because Ramirez has drawn such interest on the open market, I'm sure it will only be a matter of time before someone snatches him up with the four-or-five-year contract he's looking for. After all, it's Feb. 3, and spring training begins in less than two weeks. What team wouldn't just sink $125 million into a 36-year-old malcontent at the last minute?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Roasted.

That being said, I would not relish having Manny in the same league as the Sox, let alone the same division. Sorry to be the one that doesn't want him on the Yankees, but the guy is still an awesome hitter, clubhouse turmoil or not. Now, a five-year guy? No. Not at his age and with his desire to play day in and day out (sarcasm). Manny makes other guys in the lineup much better hitters (see: Ortiz, Kent). Clutch? Most career grand slams of active players, and most postseason homers in history (second most RBI). 15 straight LCS games with a hit, 12 time all-star, 9 silver sluggers, almost a sure hall of famer. I think he's worth about $20 million a year, but that may be a stretch, and given his age there is no way he is getting a long term deal.

He played his way out of Boston (pun intended), and now he's stuck. I can't say I'm not happy to see him in this situation, but there is no way he is remaining unemployed.

Cosmic justice. Times two.

THE YANKEES CANNOT SIGN MANNY.

The yankees have signed their quota of Type A or Type B free agents under the collectively bargained rules established by management and the Players Association.

STOP THE IGNORANCE

EW: Once again....

http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090130&content_id=3785640&vkey=news_nyy&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy

Boras wanted Manny to lose his contract with Boston because he wasn't going to get a red cent from it because it wasn't his. When Manny opted out, that meant Boras would get a piece of his new contract.

Hopefully the Times sells their share of the Sox so we can stop reading this garbage. Manny was so awful helping to win 2 World Series for the cry baby owners. I'm not a Yankees fan, but I hope it takes another 86 years for the Red Sox to win another World Series. When the GM doesn't like his situation he can quit and pout but not a player. The Red Sox are charging enough money for crappy seats in that dump of a park to have given Manny close to what he wanted. This whole thing could have been avoided.

Dogers sound desperate and are just throwing out proposals. I think they end up with him.

Whoever gets him is going to be sorry after a while. So if any fools give him more than two years they desreve it.

The Yanks announced a contract with a research lab that they have been able to clone past 6 Yank greats of the past at only $12 Billion per individual. The Yanks starting team this year will include Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford and Lou Gherig and two players to be named later. Steinbrenner said, "It has proven cost effective to pay for a sure thing then to try to spend money on hundreds of prospects to have so few of them deliver." Given theses costs, the Yankees annual salary cost this year will run up to $75 billion dollars. In other news, The Pirates organization said they are standing pat and their salary will top out at approximately $6 million dollars. Bud Selig announced that he does not see the need for a salary cap in baseball.

let me sk you people this, people keep saying he will sign with the yankees to get back at the sox? back atthem for what? for paying him more thanhe has ever earned before? back atthem for giving him the trade he asked for?
Wheres the great hatred here boys? Manny got everythinghe has asked for so far. he has no right to get back at anyone except himself.
now the yankees wil not sign manny. they would have to get rid of matsui as well, and nady, who both have huge contrtacts, so unless you see the yankssigning manny asis for say 25 mil, which bythe way would put the yankees opver last years salary, and would end up costing them bout ( last years luxury tax was 29.6 mil) so figur about 30 mil in luxury tax, and m,annys 25 minum, then you would see manny costing the yankees almost 60 million for one year. LOL please do this, i want to see all the NY fans actualy paying taxes to pay manny bill. Then i wont care if you win , you wil have paid for manny personally every new york resident for the next 20 years of bonds. lol Way to Go! man i cant stop laughing at that one.

There IS a God!

I thought Boras couldn't go back to the Bank of Hank again due to free agent signing rules that limit the amount of 'class A' free agents a team can sign? Of course I think that came from ESPN so it was probably wrong.

It shouldn't come as any surprise that no one wants him and his attitude. No one picked him up when the Sox put him on waivers several years back. Sure, he can hit but no team feels that having to pay his salary and put up with the BS is worth it. The only reason that the Dodgers took a chance on him last year was because he cost them ZERO dollars.

Who cares about this clown. He dogged his way out of Boston. How is that snake oil salesman (Boras) working out for you!

I have no desire to add Manny Ramirez to the Yankees' already exhausting pile of blue-chip mercenaries. It's gross, THEY'RE gross, and all the while my team was pursuing Teixiera I felt like WE were gross, too, because we didn't actually have a starting job available for a first baseman, and the only way that purchase could have been accommodated was by benching the wonderful Mike Lowell or the wonderful David Ortiz, niether of whom deserves to be shoved out for one injury-plagued season. I don't want yet another murderer to be added to the tedious umpteenth Murderer's Row of Yankee bats for my pitchers to fight through for 19 games a year, and I can't imagine why any sane Red Sox fan would. Ugg. I'm not looking forward to seeing Ramirez as an opponent of my team. But it's incredibly refreshing to know my team is no longer hostage to the unprofessional behavior of this oblivious punk, who quit on his teammates in full view of every GM in the game, and may possibly reap some tiny smidgion of consequence for it, if only in the weeks he's had to spend in confused uncertainty about his future. What a watse of tremendous ability on a horrendously immature character.

Wouldn't you love to see Manny step to the plate at Fenway this summer, greeted by total, complete and utter....silence.

Perfect!

Nobody's mentioned Jason Bay, a decent enough replacement for Manny and NOT a cancer in the clubhouse. Let's get him a decent contract so we can lock in left field for a few years and laugh at all the Manny drama in NY, SF, or wherever that Boras slacker ends up.

Manny will still make about $19,950,000 more than me this year.

i will be working 50 hours a week, 52 weeks, he will be playing baseball for seven months.

i might lose my job, he has $20 million guaranteed and will get another $20 million next year no matter what he does this year.

As much as I would like to laugh with you at his circumstances, right now i feel more like crying.

You should have titled this article "A Manny with no Planny"
It would have sounded much better

I think some team that wants to make a PR splash should sign Manny, Griffey Jr., and Bonds. What an outfield--over 600 HR's on average! Then Thomas at DH for good measure.

Sign Manny at any price. Save $ by dumping Epstein and Shaughnessy (I know dumping Shaughnessy doesn't save any money- I just like saying that

I am curious why would the Yankees pay Manny a lot of money? Because Manny wants it? What market is there for him right now? If I were the Yankees I would sign him for a lot lower than he has been asking. He does not have a lot of lverage at this point. Seems like if the Yankees and Mets were to look to sign him (which seems like a big if.) They should be able to get him at a more resonable price than what he has been asking at least if I were them I would do it. Good luck to Manny I am not happy with the way he went out in Boston and I thought it was selfish on his part. But I am happy what he did in the previous years.

Since Boras gets about 20% of Manny's paycheck, the $25 mill offer would pay absolutely the same amount to Manny as if he had stayed in Boston and the $45 million 2 year offer would have paid LESS. Who better to deserve this than Manny and Boras, two of the most reprehensible people in baseball.

Now if Manny does go to the Yankees, maybe we'll all benefit when he picks a fight with A-Rod. I don't care which one leaves on a stretcher in that fight.

and I used to love the guy...

Mama says ... stupid is as stupid does

Snot BorAss has done manny in LOL... Classic!

Why is anyone worried about Manny signing with a team before Spring Training starts? He never arrives on time anyway!!!

Haven't made the mistake of reading anything by this frat boy before, but I'd gladly dump the front office, the Globe sportswriters, and quite a few players to have Manny back and would win another Series with him before the Sox will without him. I've been a Sox fan since before I got my autographed '67 program, but if Ramirez winds up a Yankee, I'm going to enjoy seeing him make you cry all season long.

You need to stop blaming Boras. He plays within the rules, as his job requires. He is just doing his job. If he didn't exist someone else would fill the same role. You'd all want your advocate to advocate for you. Wouldn't you? (Yes. You know it.) If you don't like the rules then try to change them, but don't blame the attorney.

THEO, GET ON THE PHONE RIGHT NOW. GET MANNY OR DRIVE UP HIS PRICE. HE'LL DO TWO YEARS PLUS OPTION SENARIOS. THERE WILL BE JOY IN MUDVILLE EXCEPT FOR THE FOLLOWERS OF OLIVER CROMWELL WHO THINK BASEBALL IS A MORALITY PLAY.

SOMEBODY JUST POSTED THE YANKEE LINEUP. QED

DO THE DEAL! PAPI'S HEART WILL SOAR. MANNY SUPPOSEDLY QUIT. THE THUMPER ACTUALLY SPIT. I SAW IT.

Thinking of booking Manny for at Bonnaroo. Good fit for the the (Yet Another) Comedy Tent.

... sick sick sick ... lets feed the homeless children instead of Manny's EGO

Manny should listen to Pujols.

Dumb and Dumber...not sure which name, Boras or Ramirez (although I'm leaning towards Ramirez), should be listed first

A story in the Tokyo Shinbun (Newpaper) reports that Manny could join the Tokyo Giants for 1-year 35 million dollar contract. Manny would have to do 21 Ramen Noodle commercials and drink Asahi Whiskey on a semi-regular basis.

C'mon y'all. Man-me-myself-and-I wanted out of Boston. He said as much and proved it by quitting, a true ManRam of his word. He can't go back east to the Big Apple (sky scrapers, and everythang!) because of all the media & fan attention. I mean, a guy needs his space when eating sushi and stiffing the waitstaff. He and Scott Beelzeboras will absolutely turn down the 60M, 3 year contract that the Yankee$ will throw at him 3 weeks into spring training. He's just too sensitive a guy for New York. Hey... wait a minute...URRRG ... well would you look at that! A pig just flew right out me arse! Manny in pinstripes with a crew-cut! And A-Rod's mascara!Who'd a thunk it? Everyone in the Boston rotation gets a free plunk, WOO-HOO!!!

Yes, it is nice to revel. Manny should have been suspended! My fear is that he will land in New York with the Yankees and we'll see him again at Fenway.

I've read a few comments stating the sox would not pick-up MR's options. May be they don't but, Manny still made it clear that he wouldn't accept a trade unless the sox dropped both option years, making him a free agent. So to you all who want to give Manny some credit or shall I say smarts over what he did last year to the sox, give us all a break and stop blogging.

Its amazing to me that some RedSox fans want him back...

Don't celebrate until you see what Fanny Man Ram actually signs. Whatever it is Boras personally gains compared to the Sox picking up 2 options from the old contract.

can't wait to hear Bor-ASS state how"Manny is so loyal to the Dodgers that he didn't want me to negotiate with any other teams"

Manny who hahaha

The list of Manny's heroic moments with a bat is long. We all loved Manny at the plate. We don't love Manny's equally long list of bad behavior, especiallly in 2006 (oops, missed the series) and most recently 2008 (oops, missed the series). Anyone who doesn't understand that Manny's bad behavior worsened immediately after he hired Boras wasn't paying attention. Sources? You don't need sources. Look at the facts. Understand the Boras' M.O., which is greed. Examine what happened using your own sense of discernment. After he signed Boras, Manny tanked, refused to play, refused to hit, faked injuries especially against top pitchers, couldn't remember which knee to get MRI'd. It's all right there on tape and in the stats. Circumstantial? You would be either generous or naive to believe that. Is Boras capable of such things? Let me mention a few names, and You decide: Jason Veritek, Derek Lowe, Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez, Johnny Damon, JD Drew, Daisuke Matsuzaka. You decide if he acted in the best interest of the player, and if he acted in a fair manner with the Sox. I think the simple solution is to ban him and his players in Boston.

Kevin Brown, Barry Zito, Andruw Jones...Boras overpaid clients to name a few. I hope GM's learn from their mistakes. Boras is bad for baseball. Salary cap anyone or "Boras Cap" more like it. Ramirez and Boras deserves each other. Both are greedy ____...maybe karma has something to do with lack of offers.
Ramirez was quoted earlier " Gas is up and so am I" so now gas is down and so are your offers (one) and you snubbed it. What happen to you saying I bleed Dodger Blue when you first came over to LA after the Sox trade. I guess short term memroy loss. Too caught up counting your $$$ but no common sense and courtesy to people that pay you and Dodger fans. Boras set your ego aside and sign Ramirez with the Dodgers. Look what you did with Varitek...poor advice...looks like another heading that direction.

Manny thought he was so slick forcing his way out of town like that. Now, he's finding what comes around goes around. He was an ignorant fool to think his despicable little ploy would not come back and bite him in the end. Who in their right mind is going to guarantee this guy the amount money he's asking for any more than two years? Another case of a player represented by Scott Boras pathetically overestimating his value. Manny's going to extend his offseason as long as his lazy butt can manage and then he'll take the best offer. Boras will call Steinbrenner incessantly pleading with him to "stick" it to the Sox for old times sake, gushing that Manny's always dreamed of being a Yankee. Boras will go back and beg the Dodgers to put the two years at 45 mil back on the table. When roughly half of what he originally sought when he advised Manny to force his way out from under the club options, appears, he'll have Manny sign the contract before the ink dries. Before it goes public he'll have his minions spinning it and blaming it all on the economy, defamation of character by Sox management, and hint at collusion, anything but his and his client's avarice. The only sad part is this bum will still get more in one year for hitting a ball with a stick then ninety-five percent of his team's hard-working fans will earn in a lifetime.

"Greed"--what a sadly naive assumption.

What an elite player seeks in a contract is the highest possible rank among other elite players. The money used to determine this rank has absolutely nothing to do with purchasing power--these players have already accumulated more cash than can be spent. The value of the money is of a different symbolic kind: If A-Rod earns the most money then that means he is the best player (at least as far as this symbolic order works). So, if Manny's agent believes his client is as good as, or better than the highest paid player, then he will demand an annual salary that is at least as high (23/yr) or higher (25/yr).

The contract negotiation has virtually nothing to do with the amount of money a player "needs." Rather, it's about a dollar figure that serves the purpose of ranking the player, symbolically, in a class of similar players. You'll recall what Pedro said about his contract negotiations with the Sox--"I made my millions long before I came to Boston. It's not about the money. It's about respect."

The problem today with this method of valuing/ranking players (respecting them, as it were) is that it is completely out of synch with the global economy. So what we see are franchises that are reluctant to pay (because of the downturn in the economy), and players that are reluctant to settle (because the symbolic order remains the same). Unlike Pettite and Varitek, who settled for half of the symbolic value they had last year, Manny will not settle for anything less than the highest salary in baseball. He is, afterall, one of the best.

Money in baseball is not about "greed." It's about respect. Like him or not, Manny commands the most respect *of this kind.*

"GM's Dreading the Dreadlocks" No GM's want to deal with Ramirez....
Boras sure miscalculated your value or I think you created your own value through lack of respect for your teammates and manager during your lack of effort last July with the Sox. You and Boras deserve each other. I am glad to see the GM's do not want to invest on Manny being Manny...

#65....post with the most common sense. Red Sox are done before they even start without Manny in the lineup....as demonstrated last year........I see the Sox finishing third, second if they really struggle for it, but that's it. You all know it, too but won't repeat it out loud.

For all the Manny fans and apologists of greentangle's ilk who give that glorified clown an inordinate amount of the credit for the Sox championships, please go root for whatever team is clueless enough to offer one lousy dime for Manny the Clown to perform his stale act. The Sox don't need you nor Manny. Any "fan" that would want a player back that essentially defecated on the team you purport to root for, the city it represents, and the fans who support it, is no fan. Manny did not win a championship before his arriving in Boston and he will not win one after his leaving. Not if there's a lick of justice remaining in this world. As far as the Sox go, if it's another 86 years and another twenty-six championships for the Yankees before they win another one, then so be it. I'd wait for one until hell froze over,or Manny played hard for an entire non-contract year, before I'd have that bum back on the Sox.

Manny's pending endorsement deal with The Ladders.com might be in trouble...You should never leave the green monster a little yellow...Maybe he will be serving up Grand slams...working at Dennys

"MANNY BACK TO BOSTON...Film at 11:" I am not going to predict it's going to happen, but it wouldn't surprise me one itoa that we all wake up one morning soon and hear that Manny got 2-3 year deal with the Sox, with an option year and a bunch of "behavor contingencies" in the deal. It's hard to believe that this thought (post-Texeira signing) hasn’t been voiced upstairs. You could find one morning not too far away that there have been clandestine secret CIA type meetings b/t the Red Sox brass and BorAss where they all will make nice ("Can we all get along"), kumbya with ownership and key Sox players, and Manny comesback. Since Manny has no other choices/options, and the Sox need his bat--they both need each other (post-Texeira signing) more now than ever, he may become contrite and apologetic, and they all have a love fest in Theo's office. Again, I'm not saying it will happen, it just wouldn't knock me over if it did. At least you HAVE to believe this was dicussed on Yawkee Way in the last month. You're a fool if you don't believe otherwise.

"Manny back to Boston" post #218
"you'd be a fool not to believe it wasn't discussed" I wouldn't give THeo that much credit but Manny returning to RS should be front and center. Now listen up all you shut ins and self rightious sports writers. Bring Manny back with a $25mil 1 yr salary and another $25 - 30 mil an incentive pack.
IE: $5 mil over 350 ave, $5 mil 45+ hr, $5 mil 135 RBI, $5 mil tripple crown, $5 mil 150 games played, $5 mil playoff/WS ave over 300, 7hr, 30 rbi. $2mil be a good boy
That $57mil for 1 yr and you can go and be a FA next year. The RS had him on teh books for $20mil anyway , no loss of face for RS Manny must perform get paid!

IMO Manny will end up with the Yanks if Posada is healthy enough to catch on a regular basis.I'm actually quite surprised he hasn't landed there already.If I were running the Yanks I would take a flyer on him for 2 years with club options after that.With Manny hitting behind him Arod truely becomes a monster.Nobody in the game now that Bonds is gone is as good at guessing pitch selection and setting up a pitcher as Manny is.Arod would learn that from Manny as Ortiz has.Then watch out!

Just stop it!!!
Manny is NOT going to be back in a Red Sox uniform; he threw his team under the bus, he quit on the Red Sox, he has shown that he has a 50 cent brain underneath a million dollar swing. THERE IS NO WAY THAT THE SOX AND THEO ARE BRINGING THIS CRETIN BACK!

Now let's move on.

I love how everyone forgets that the Red Sox front office was stringing Manny along all last year. Manny gave us 7 incredible years, 2 championships, and all he asked for was a heads-up from management about his upcoming option years. But the Sox figured, nah, we'll just leave you twisting in the wind and we'll decide about your option years when we feel like it. Manny deserved better from the Sox. Manny didn't handle it well, obviously, but the Sox had to know he was going to react that way. It was poorly handled on both sides. Here's the bottom line, If Manny joins the Yanks, the Yanks win 110 games and win the WS, and we will all die a little inside.

Manny's hair would look great under a McDonald's cap.
Oh wait - he can't get along with his colleagues well enough to work there.

the yanks will sign him just to piss of the met fans
and that it will and if they go to the world series and the mets don;t
god bless omar and jeff
they will need body guards to walk thru new york

If Manny took the 2 yr, $45 million offer from the Dodgers, he still would have lost money on the $40 million potentially remaining from Boston because of Boras's cut. Boras was not his agent on the original signing with Boston. Boras had to get Manny out of the deal to make money off of him.

WIth NY saying they are not in the Manny race, reminds me of Teixeria. Didn't NY say the same thing right before they were allowed to submit the final bid? I have felt all along that Manny would probably end up in NY.

To all those of you who think manny's going to the yanks.... fugetaboutit, cashman has said, flat out, that they're done with big trades. Furthermore, cashman said that the yanks are tapped on payroll too, hard to believe, but that's what he said. Third, the yanks have too many outfielders anyway, and they're looking to trade one just to get the numbers down to normal quota.... and that's assuming matsui is going to be their DH.

If you want to read about the whole sorted melodrama, read the blog posts at mlbtraderumors.com

One final thing: I think the yanks would be better of signing Ben Sheets for the inevitable time when one of their pitchers goes on the DL.

Umm...Eric?

I realize that the type A free agent rules have changed. But Major League Baseball has yet to change its roster rules. How can the Yankees sign Manny, exactly? By trading the untradeable Matsui, Damon, Swisher, or Cabrera? They already have one too many outfielders on their roster. By trading Nady? To who? Who would give up anything for him when they can get Dunn for free?

I suppose they could release Damon and/or Matsui. But that means adding $13 million to the cost of Manny. If I were running the Yankees, I'd sign Dunn before Manny even if a roster spot WERE available!

one can always expect to visit the globe and find folks still whining about Manny. Let is go, dudes. He helped win 2 world series and with or without him they won't win another for awhile--the league has moved on and there are better teams. As for Manny, he will end up with the Dodgers and close his career either ust behind or just ahead of Aaron on the rbi list. I find the continued assumption that he will be playing for the Yankees on opening day laughable and pathetic. We won two world series, folks Time to stop fearing and hating the evil empire.