Baseball moves: Molitor to Seattle! When does the Manny watch end?

[HuckleB]

I'm happy to see a childhood hero with the M's, though I'm worried about his taint as a former Brewer, a worry hedged by the memory that he was a Brewer during every one of the eight or nine winning seasons in their history. I'm happy to see that a former batting artist will be offering advice in Seattle, yet I'm worried that his connection as a former Blue Jay means this is just one last sorry Pat stand.

I guess benefit of the doubt wins out for now.

Moli! Moli! Moli!

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/news/mlb_news.jsp?ymd=20031030&content_id=597086&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

And what is the countdown on the Manny waiver situation?

[HuckleB]

1. Waivers ended at one o'clock Eastern time.

Does the lack of news mean he's still with the Sox?

[Red_Storm]

2. don't expect...............

any team to take on the big contract and headache........

[HuckleB]

6. That's my suspicion...

but I would never have expected anyone to offer a contract like that in the first place, and, yet, it happened. Hopefully, the A-Rod fiasco in Texas will keep contracts more in line with actual value. Sure, A-Rod is incredible. Sure, Manny's bat is a wonder. They should be paid highly by comparison, but not the ridiculous salaries they now possess. Not that I blame them. I'd sign for that kind of money, too, if someone was foolish enough to offer it.

[Red_Storm]

11. "if someone was foolish enough to offer it"

you hit it right on the head..........A-Rod's contract set a foolish and impossible standard...What's his contract ?....250 million dollars...that's just insanity........

[papau]

3. Sox will pay to be rid of 100 million - cover "cost" via a player in trade

Only the Yanks might have bid - and it appears they did not.

[HuckleB]

4. Yeah,

the Yanks apparently stated that they weren't interested.

[Red_Storm]

7. I don't see ..........

the Yanks even attempting a move for him.....the priority this winter is pitching and if Soriano doesn't get traded, a second baseman, it's very likely Sori will be in the outfield next season.....

[HuckleB]

9. His fielding is that bad?

It's not going to be easy finding a worthy second baseman, at any rate.

[Red_Storm]

18. it was the errors, especially turning double plays...............

and the fact that Bernie might be moved from centerfield ( age, injuries)and if the Yanks don't get Vladimir it would make Sori's switch to the outfield inevitable......as far as second basemen, Fernando Vin~a is a free agent, don't know if the Cardinals picked up the option for next year..........Yanks might make a move for Vidro of the Expos............

[HuckleB]

20. MLB can't allow the 'Pos to give up both Vlad and Vidro...

They need to keep some talent there or the asking price for the Expos is going to drop precipitously.

Would the Yanks put Vlad in center? That might be a gamble, too, as he is appearing more injury prone already. If teams are looking at Vlad in center, you gotta put the Mariners in that sweepstakes. A bat like his in center would be just what the doctor ordered.

[Red_Storm]

21. Well, in Vladimir's case ............

he's a free agent so.....he'll take the money and run .......Vidro ? it depends what is offered to the Expo's....I think they can expect some good offers for him....

[HuckleB]

22. He has stated how much he enjoys his teammates, however.

It's not a sure thing that Vlad's going to simply take the highest bid. The 'Pos appear to be a close-knit group, perhaps for obvious reasons.

[Red_Storm]

24. I'm sure he enjoys his teammates..............

but he would enjoy a really fat contract even more and besides that I think he is ready for prime time, I think he is ready to join a team with championship aspirations.........

[HuckleB]

26. You may be right.

He just seems much more hesitant than the norm. I won't be surprised by anything with the Vlad free agency story.

[Red_Storm]

5. I think that might be a more likely scenario .........

unloading him in some kind of trade package or multi team trade deal..........

[HuckleB]

8. It's more likely...

That's for sure. But I suspect that someone else will be expecting the Sox to take on some expensive talent they no longer find to be worth the money OR to pick up part of the tab for Manny.

[Braden]

10. no claims.

looks like the Red Sox would find out from MLB at 2pm.

It appears that no one will claim Ramirez contract. I am guessing that the Vlad Guerrero sweepstakes is going to be a bloodbath. Yankees will probably win, leaving Baltimore to possibly look to get Ramirez in trade, or another big bat in trade.


And the Red Sox have to deal with a PO'd star and 24 guys who are probably thrilled that management sent Manny and Morad this message.

[HuckleB]

14. Do you think...

they'll push Vlad into the Ramirez / A-Rod stratosphere? Don't get me wrong. He's THAT good, but, as we know, no one is THAT good, in terms of value to the team.

[SaveElmer]

17. Yanks can't afford him

Sox want A-Rod, which is why they are trying to dump Manny. If the Yanks took Manny, A-Rod would go to Boston. That would free up space for Pettite to go to Texas. Rumor is he wants to move back there. Yanks do not want to lose Pettite.

I think The O's are gonna pick up either Vlad or Tejada. Yanks will probably pick up LaTroy Hawkins, and/or Shannon Stewart.

[Red_Storm]

12. about Molitor .............

excellent news that he is still involved in baseball, a truly great player and class act......

[Braden]

13. I thought he was bucking for a management job?

[HuckleB]

15. He likely is, long term.

But you gotta go where the work is offered, and one of the great batters of all time is going to get a shot at batting coach, so...

[Braden]

23. yeah its a good fit but I know the Boston Media have mentioned

his name. Molitor as a hitting coach sounds pretty good if your an M's fan!

[HuckleB]

25. Yeah, it can't hurt.

I do suspect that it's a stepping stone, however. He does seem like a management type of guy, but I suspect that he'll relate well to the players, which might make him a valuable commodity in the clubhouse. He'll have to weigh the offers that come his way down the road.

[HuckleB]

16. No surprise, but... Sosa Will Remain A Cubbie!

He won't test free-agency. And, well, it's not like he's underpaid.

[Red_Storm]

19. and he's up there in age too..............

[HuckleB]

27. Uh, oh.

Zimmer's going to Tampa? Pedro better watch out. He'll have Zim coming from the front, feigning to and fro, with old Lou chop-blocking him from behind.

;)

[Red_Storm]

29. kinda surprised they're getting rid of Piniella..........

so soon, the Devil Rays were awful this year but I thought it was supposed to be a long term project with Lou as manager......

[Red_Storm]

30. I was in Tampa for spring training this year...........

the fans were excited about Lou being the manager and everyone I spoke to wasn't expecting great things right away and felt that it would be a long term project turning the Devil Rays around......

[Red_Storm]

31. I just read about it............

Zim's might be hired as COACH not manager, ok nevermind then.....

[HuckleB]

32. They're not.

Zimmer would be the bench coach. Lou remains the manager. The Rays looked fairly competitive in the second half, so Lou's not going anywhere for a while.

[matcom]

28. MANNY CLEARS WAIVERS

will remaing a Red Sox

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2003/10/31/ramirez_clears_waivers_remains_with_red_sox/

[matcom]

33. kick

[HuckleB]

34. So...

are Sox fans happy about this? What was the fan consensus about the whole waivers deal in the first place?