White Sox, Phillies don't want Manny
Red Sox star either too expensive or not right fit for most teams
 | Manny Ramirez is owed $19 million in 2006, $18 million in 2007 and $20 million in 2008, the final three guaranteed seasons of the $160 million, eight-year deal he agreed to with Boston before the 2001 season. |
Winslow Townson / AP |
 |
Latest tweets from the HBT guys
|
For more MLB musings, check out Hardball Talk. |
 | Video: Baseball from NBC Sports |
 Manuel praises Halladay Jan. 27: Phillies manager Charlie Manuel thinks Roy Halladay is the best pitcher in the league and says it would have been nice to have him in his pitching rotation this upcoming year. |
Kenny Williams was asked whether Manny Ramirez would be a good fit for the Chicago White Sox.
“He’s not that kind of guy,” the general manager of the World Series champions said Thursday. “We have a certain kind of chemistry.”
Point made. Boston will not be dealing Ramirez to Chicago.
While he had 45 homers and 144 RBIs for the Red Sox last season, there appears to be a limited market for Ramirez, who asked Boston to explore trade options because he’s uncomfortable living there.
New Philadelphia GM Pat Gillick said there’s no room for the 33-year-old Ramirez in the Phillies’ outfield, which has Bobby Abreu in right and Pat Burrell in left.
“Our corners are pretty good,” Gillick said. “In high school he played center, but I don’t think he can play center anymore.”
Last July, the Red Sox and New York Mets held trade talks about Ramirez, and both sides agreed they didn’t get very far. The Los Angeles Angels, who want a power hitter, could be a match. Perhaps Ramirez would want to return to the Cleveland Indians, his former team.
Ramirez is owed $57 million during the next three years and has the right to block trades, so the Red Sox and his agent pledged to work together.
|
General managers completed the formal part of their meetings Thursday, delaying until their December meeting in Dallas a decision on whether to move back the amateur draft until late June.
Jimmie Lee Solomon, executive vice president for baseball operations in the commissioner’s office, said commissioner Bud Selig was asked during Wednesday’s sessions whether he expected any change in the designated hitter rule, which is used in the American League but not in the National.
“He said for the foreseeable future we’ll be doing the same thing we have been doing,” Solomon said.
During the week, GMs bandied about big names for possible deals, including Ramirez, Florida first baseman Carlos Delgado, Texas second baseman Alfonso Soriano and Tampa Bay closer Danys Baez. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said teams always are interested in right-hander Chien-Ming Wang and second baseman Robinson Cano, rookies who performed well last season with low salaries.
“That’s what November, December and January are for, exploration of the possibilities of big ideas, big trades, transformations of rosters,” Red Sox president Larry Lucchino said.
|
Starting Friday, 183 free agents will be able to negotiate contracts with all teams. The final seven eligible players filed Thursday night, including Houston’s seven-time Cy Young Award winner, Roger Clemens.
The market could go up significantly for relief pitchers, who appear to be coveted. While closers such as Billy Wagner and B.J. Ryan figure to get big money, there’s likely to be a trickle-down to setup men such as left-hander Scott Eyre and right-hander Bobby Howry.
- Discuss Story On Newsvine
-
Rate Story:
LowHigh - Instant Message
MORE FROM BASEBALL |
 Baseball Section Front |
| Add Baseball headlines to your news reader: |
Sponsored links