New York Yankees Pursuing Manny Ramirez
Team Looks to Land One of Baseball's Most Dangerous Hitters
Dec 19, 2008
Let's face it: no matter how bad the economy may be, the New York Yankees are going to keep spending a lot of money this off-season. They have already committed $243.5 million to starters CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett; but they seem to be far from finished.
In search of a hitter to complement and protect Alex Rodrigues in the lineup (now that Bobby Abreu and Jason Giambi are gone), the Yankees appear to be going after their long-time nemesis Manny Ramirez. It's probably not a bad idea, from a baseball standpoint or from a marketing perspective. Ramirez proved last year that he is still one of the best, and nmost feared, hitters in the game. Adding him to the lineup after Alex Rodriguez could do wonders for the Yankees run production. Moreover, Manny is a hometown hero from Washington Heights. Having him in pinstripes,. while he approached 600 home runs and has to face the Red Sox 19 times a year can only be a good thing for Yankee ticket sales.
So what's the hold up?
Manny Seeking at Least Five-Year/$125 Million Deal
Well, when it comes to Ramirez, you have to remember that no matter what happens -- wars, financial collapses, even if a meteor struck the Earth -- Manny will be Manny. Accordingly, the soon to be 37-year old slugger and his agent Scott Broas started the free agent season looking for a six year contract that would pay him around $150 million. There were no takers. Only the Dodgers, the team that Manny carried on his back into the playoffs in 2008, showed any interest in Ramirez, offering him a two-year contract for $45 million. Manny didn't accept or reject the offer, but continued to search for suitors.
Not many surfaced. In time, the Dodgers rescinded their offer, meaning that the guy who hit .332 with 37 home runs and 121 RBI still doesn't have a team.
But, in the last few days, an unnamed Yankee source told George King of the New York Post that "Hank Steinbrenner wants him, but he isn't alone in the organization," a reference perhaps to the rumors that GM Brian Cashman is not so hot on signing Manny. But the source added: "They need somebody to protect Alex Rodriguez," which is true since they did not re-sign Bobby Abreu and Jason Giambi.
According to King's source, the Yankees are likely to offer Ramirez a three-year deal in the $20 million per season range, even though agent Scott Boras reportedly is seeking a five-year pact.
Is Manny Ramirez Worth the Money (and the Occasional Headaches)?
The big question of course is this: what is Manny Ramirez really worth? The short answer is yes.
It's scary to think aboput giving a soon to be 37-year old player that kind of money. But Manny is no average player, and he's not just a future Hall of Famer. Like it or not, Ramirez is a baseball immortal. While many in Boston right now wouldn't agree with that statement, the statistics do not lie.
Manny is one of only three players with more than 500 home runs and a batting average of at least .310. The other two are Babe Ruth and Ted Williams. If he plays three more years, he will likely retire with more than 600 home runs, more than 600 doubles and more than 2,000 RBI. The only other guy to do that is Hank Aaron.
When Hank Aaron was 37, he hit .327 with 47 HR and 118 RBI. Ruth hit .241 with 41 HR and 137 RBI.
Ted Williams hit .388 with 38 and 87 when he was 38.
So, is it so unreasonable to assume that Ramirez can hit over .300 with 35 homers and 110 RBI at age 37? No, it's not unreasonable. In fact, it's quite likely. Especially in the Yankee lineup.
Look for a deal to be signed right around New Year's. Then Manny can ring in 2009 in style.
