Red Sox place Ramirez on Waivers

[MaineDem]

WOW, I didn't see this coming!

Offered to the highest bidder: top-level major league hitter. Available with power, retains behavioral baggage. Asking price: $104 million.

In a surprising move, the Red Sox put Manny Ramirez up for auction, placing the All-Star outfielder on irrevocable waivers last night, according to the New York Times, meaning that any team can have him if it is willing to pay his salary. Ramirez has five years and $104 million remaining on a $160 million, eight-year contract, and is scheduled to make $20.5 million in 2004.

"The waiver procedure is a confidential procedure, and we're prohibited from commenting on it. We're not permitted to say whether a player is on or is not on waivers," Red Sox spokesman Kevin Shea told the Associated Press.

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2003/10/30/ramirez_placed_on_waivers/

[VermontDem2004]

1. Why not trade him?

He is a great hitter, I would expect to someone just as good or better for him.

[Braden]

4. no one will trade for the contract

the Waiver is probably a hope that someone with DEEEEEEp pockets takes him off thier hands.

I think the strategy (if you can call it that) is pretty dumb. You have what elias says is statistically the second best player in the game and you are willing to give him away for some rather minor immature transgressions.

I think they would like to see NY get him so they would have more power in the Vlad Guerrero Sweepstakes. Earth to J Henry, New York can afford both.

[HuckleB]

2. This surprised me, too.

Of course, I didn't know how much of a drain he was on the team's coffers. I guess it's a value thing. They probably feel they can get far more for the money. I suspect they may be right.

[joeybee12]

3. Ah, dump him!

I think the Red Sox' real problem is they can't contain the huge egos on many of their players.

I'm sure Pedro told Grady Little--when he approached him in the eighth inning--that he was doing just fine and dandy. Little gave in, because Pedro would have been ticked.

Tough--a manager is supposed to keep the players in line and have authority and command respect.

Maybe if they dump Ramirez, this will send a signal that when you play for the Red Sox, you play for a team.

[AWD]

5. Choke on that contract, Boston

You upped the price and upped the price, driving him WAY out of range for mostteams to even THINK about taking him.

Now you get to choke on that 17 million a year.

[Braden]

6. cleveland offered him $125mm not exactly a poor offer

I would like to Keep the Human RBI on the Red Sox.

[WilliamPitt]

7. Honestly? I like this move

(snip)

By ridding themselves of Ramirez, the Sox would have more money to spend on other players, such as pitcher Pedro Martinez, shortstop Nomar Garciaparra, right fielder Trot Nixon, pitcher Derek Lowe, and catcher Jason Varitek, all of whom become free agents at the end of next season. It would also allow them to dabble in a free agent market that includes Montreal right fielder Vladimir Guerrero, and pitchers Bartolo Colon of the White Sox and Kevin Millwood of the Phillies.

Ramirez finished this season just one point behind Bill Mueller for the batting title, hitting .325. He hit 37 homers and knocked in 104 runs. During the 2003 post-season, his first with the Red Sox, Ramirez batted .265 with three homers and seven RBIs. He is widely regarded as one of the most feared hitters in the game, but his off-field shenanigans and aloof behavior created a nuisance in the Boston clubhouse.

Perhaps the most notable episode came in early September when Ramirez missed a weekend series against the Yankees with a sore throat and fever, but was spotted with New York infielder Enrique Wilson at a Boston hotel bar. He also failed to show up for an appointment with the team doctor.

(end snip)

Of course the Yankees will grab him.

[Braden]

8. herein lies the problem

Manny is signed to an 8 year $160mm contract. Vlad's agent is going to go to Boston as a last resort. In football this kind of move is how it's done. In Baseball this is a risky decision. Unless someone other than the Yankee's take him. If the Yankees do take him get used to Manny hitting HR's over the Monstah in pinstripes.

The man lost the batting title by a point. Has hit 35+HR and 110+ rbi in his sleep throughout his career. I would focus on getting him motivated to play hard nosed every day. I dont think this method will help that.

[matcom]

9. they should have traded him

what's Manny worth?

couple of Barry Bonds or Roy Halladay types?

[Braden]

10. who knows. Probably one MLB player

and a pitching prospect.

Its his contract that they can't move. There isn't a team in the American League that wouldnt mind the services of Manny Ramirez. But at $16.5 per season with $4mm deferred no one is likely to jump at it.

straight up he is worth a bonds or halliday.

[MaineDem]

11. Yankees not interested in Ramirez

The New York Yankees have "absolutely no interest whatsoever" in picking up Manny Ramirez off waivers, an industry source told the Globe this afternoon.

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2003/10/30/yankees_not_interested_in_ramirez/

Hmmmmmm...might this just backfire on the Sox?

[maveric]

12. Manny is a great hitter, but he's also a slug with a shitty attitude.

http://cbs.sportsline.com/mlb/story/6790960
He dogs it on the basepaths and in the outfield. Some days its like he's not even trying to hit the ball. And several times, even to Joe Morgan on ESPN, he claimed that he always wanted to be a Yankee.
The Sox have a great hitting team and they still will be without Manny and his big contract.
Vladmir Guererro is younger and a better all around player. He'd fit in nicely with the Sox.
Bye, Bye Manny! Have fun in NY.