At one point this winter, the Red Sox made a play to re-acquire Marlins superstar Hanley Ramirez, league sources tell SI.com. But while the Marlins listened to Boston's overtures, talks were quickly scuttled and it appears there's very little chance they will be revived as Florida isn't anxious to trade its best player.There's no way of knowing how serious this was or how far along talks went, or whether the discussions are truly dead, but it's food for thought. However, Boston would have to give up way more than Laptop and LBJ for Hanley, who turned 25 last week. (As you know, Ramirez was a Boston prospect before being sent to Florida in the Beckett/Lowell deal.)
The Marlins were said to be most interested in a centerfielder, and it's believed Boston's promising young centerfielder Jacoby Ellsbury and talented pitching prospect Clay Buchholz were among those mentioned in a potential package ...
It was originally believed that these recent discussions came after Boston lost out in the running for Mark Teixeira ... [but] they were held a few weeks prior to that. ... Since Boston is said to be happy with Jed Lowrie at shortstop, it's possible the Red Sox might have considered using Ramirez in centerfield.
Ramirez's 6/70 contract extension (signed last year) will pay him:
2009: $ 5.5
2010: $ 7
2011: $11
2012: $15
2013: $15.5
2014: $16
This might have been nice, although I don't know how easy it is to just become a CF'er, however much SS is a more difficult position.
ReplyDeleteSOSH discussion speculates that it is the Marlins who leaked word of the discussions. They won't be able to keep Hanley more than another year or two at prices in the extension they signed him to. Thus, maybe they'd like to get an idea from teams what they'd be willing to give up for him. (Obviously from a PR standpoint the Sox would not have wanted this to leak; we come across as desperate in the wake of the Tex business.)
Another thread speculated that the Sox might be in on the rumored interest in trading for Michael Young of the Rangers. I was surprised to hear that he's a poor defensive SS since I remember Francona being quoted as liking the idea of acquiring him a couple years ago. He's at something like 5/80 now. Blah.
Everything could be great if: Josh Bard is good, Lowell and Ortiz are healthy, Lowrie takes things up a notch, and we acquire a couple of good bench/platoon players.
Lotta ifs. Only way to dispel them conclusively is to acquire someone solid & relatively young for the lineup, and everyone on the FA market seems to have too many negatives (Dunn? poor defense).
That leaves trades. We do have serious chips and of course Theo has the balls to get creative a la this Hanley discussion. But when the other teams ask too much, what else can you do but say "No, thanks"?
Zenslinger said...
ReplyDelete(Obviously from a PR standpoint the Sox would not have wanted this to leak; we come across as desperate in the wake of the Tex business.)
I disagree Theo has coveted Hanley for quite awhile, I don't see us as desperate at all, infact I see the things the Yankees did more as desperate than us going after Hanley.......I may get my wish after all.....
If it's just Clay and LBJ I would do that in a hot second.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE Lowrie at SS. I would also love a turd at SS if it meant Lugo would be gone.
ReplyDeleteI do LOVE Lowrie for just being Jed too.
I think we really screwed up with the Tex thing. He was clearly the best FA pickup and we were clearly going after him hard. I think anything now makes us look desperate. Might as well re-sign Manny and make him DH since Papi is done and so is Lowell. This is bad news.
Patrick said...
ReplyDeleteIf it's just Clay and LBJ I would do that in a hot second.
I second that
I was told by a co-worker that another co-worker told him the Sox were thinking of re-signing Manny. There is nothing out there that I've seen to back that up so I'm sure it's hogwash. I can't believe the Sox management would ever even entertain that.
ReplyDeleteHowever, my question for you Allan and the list....would you take him back?
I don't see us as desperate at all
ReplyDeleteI don't either. I'm saying from a PR standpoint, not from a reality standpoint.
I think we really screwed up with the Tex thing. He was clearly the best FA pickup and we were clearly going after him hard. I think anything now makes us look desperate. Might as well re-sign Manny and make him DH since Papi is done and so is Lowell. This is bad news.
ReplyDeleteCalling Chicken Little!
I wouldn't write Papi's obit just yet.
ReplyDeleteAnd I think both Buck and LBJ are too much to give. One or the other and someone else I could see, but not both in one deal, unless it was for a Manny type player, and I don't think this other Ramirez will equal that first one
SoSock said...
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't write Papi's obit just yet.
And I think both Buck and LBJ are too much to give. One or the other and someone else I could see, but not both in one deal, unless it was for a Manny type player, and I don't think this other Ramirez will equal that first one
No One will equal Manny , but hass Double HH proven he can be a top of the line starter , and Has Ellsbury proven he can be an everyday CF, no on both accounts..
And you guys choose to reply to Andy , but nothing he says he means to be seroius , he thinks that's funny, the Homosexual stuff and the sky is falling stuff..
Some call it sarcasm I call it old and played out....
Some might call a series of dots after every post played out.........
ReplyDeleteEveryone's got their shtick. It's all good.
There's no way Manny comes back. They'll extend Lugo's contract for 5 more years before that happens. It's a relationship that went irrevocably sour.
ReplyDeleteL-girl said...
ReplyDeleteSome might call a series of dots after every post played out.........
Everyone's got their shtick. It's all good.
Some may, but mine is completeley unintentional with no attempt at humor or sarcasm they are just periods meant not to offend anyone, but if they are played out I will try to freshen up my act...
Nope, I wasn't implying it was played out. Just that you are you and Andy is Andy, and we know you don't care for his game, but hopefully you will just ignore it.
ReplyDeleteAlright in all seriousness. I do think Manny was purposely trying to get released to appease himself and his new agent who would not benefit from his options being picked up. I think the Papi era is over and Lowell is just a liability with that kind of injury. It's an age wear and tear thing. Kinda the same thing with Papi's hand. Sorry for always being sarcastic and really the sky isn't falling but some of our superstars are nearing their end and we don't like to hold onto the past too long around here I thought. If all the players come back and play like heroes then great for me, you and everyone else. We don't want to sign any older players(mid-30's) so why is it important that we keep those same types of people? So 2009 is a new year and a new season and a new andy...
ReplyDeleteandy said...
ReplyDeleteandy...
Laugin my ass off....
Really I am