October 12, 200521 yr Yankee doodle Manny? Wednesday, October 12, 2005 By BOB KLAPISCH SPORTS COLUMNIST Can you envision Manny Ramirez, the American League's most dangerous, late-inning threat from the right side, wearing pinstripes in 2006? None other than Ramirez himself has. The Red Sox' left fielder told friends in the final weeks of the regular season he would accept, if not welcome, a trade to either New York team - an intriguing opening in the wake of Alex Rodriguez's collapse in the AL Division Series. The Yankees have a long winter ahead, full of critical decisions about their general manager, center fielder and a new setup man for Mariano Rivera. Ramirez's name has never been seriously considered until now, but that may change after another early exit from the playoffs and Rodriguez's .133 average against the Angels. According to one American League source, the Red Sox are leaning toward one scenario where they'll sign all their free agents, most notably Johnny Damon, but would trade Ramirez for the right return package. The Yankees obviously would need to include a third team to pull off such a monster swap - and don't underestimate the Mets' willingness to do anything to pair Ramirez with GM Omar Minaya, after nearly acquiring the slugger at the July 31 trade deadline. But George Steinbrenner will be just as motivated to find more potent weapons than Bernie Williams (.211 in the ALDS) even Hideki Matsui (who hit .200 and made the final out in Game 5 with the tying run on base). Ramirez is "definitely ready to come to New York," said the friend, who dined with the left fielder during the Sox' road series against the Yankees. "He likes the Yankees, the Mets, either one, he just wants to be here." Of course, the Yankees can't begin restructuring until they have a GM in place, and that won't happen until Cashman decides whether to accept a 20 percent pay raise and ownership equity, an offer that's been on the table since July. George Steinbrenner made it clear he wants Cashman back in 2006, but that was three months ago. Yankee sources say The Boss is now just as inclined to name Tampa-based VP Damon Oppenheimer as Cashman's replacement if talks stall beyond the expiration-date on the GM's contract, Oct. 31. No matter who choreographs the Yankees' off-season, though, there are certain constants that'll remain untouched: Alex Rodriguez will be back (at $20 million a year, where could he go?), Derek Jeter stays put as the team's most marketable commodity and Gary Sheffield will finish out the last year of a three-year pact he personally negotiated with Steinbrenner. And the ageless Mariano Rivera will rescue the bullpen once again. There's a long list of potential free agents, including Williams, Matsui and Tom Gordon. The Yankees want Matsui, unless the long-shot scenario of Ramirez coming to the Bronx becomes a reality, in which case he's gone. It's hard to envision Bernie coming back, however, unless he's ready to take a massive pay cut and be content with 250 at-bats a year. And with free agent B.J. Ryan looming as Rivera's next setup man, Gordon likely has thrown his final pitch as a Yankee. Some other free agency issues likely will resolve themselves, including the near-certain retirement of Al Leiter and Tino Martinez. The Yankees must determine whether Jason Giambi is their everyday first baseman, or whether he's better suited as a designated hitter. And if Bernie is gone, or at least in deep background mode, it's not impossible to think of the Marlins' Juan Pierre succeeding him. Damon, of course, will be available, and while some executives consider it an air-tight guarantee the Sox will re-sign him, the Yankees may actually have a better chance than anyone thinks. One person close to the center fielder said, "The Sox blew their chance to sign Johnny earlier this year" when he was ready to accept a four-year, $30 million offer - practically the same deal he signed in 2001. Sox ownership ultimately balked, setting the stage for agent Scott Boras to demand a six or seven year deal that'll increase Damon's yearly salary to more than $12 million per. Said one member of Damon's entourage: "It's an even playing field now. Johnny's going to see what's out there." As for pitching, the Yankees are more limited than they want to admit, considering they owe Carl Pavano three more years at $9 million per and are into Jaret Wright for another two seasons. And besides, they have no real incentive to trade Aaron Small, Shawn Chacon or Chien-Ming Wang. Question is, though: Who'll tutor them? Pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre all but announced his retirement from the Yankees this past week, hinting he'll take a similar role with the Mariners. That'll make it possible for the Yankees to again mull approaching the Braves' Leo Mazzone, who, through third parties, heard of the Bombers' interest in him over the summer. Mazzone and the Braves hotly denied the Yankees ever made contact. Technically, that was true; there was never any one-on-one conversation between the legendary coach and any member of the Yankees' front office. But according to one person familiar with the Bombers' interest in Mazzone, they'd be willing to do "whatever it takes" if he decides he's ready to leave Atlanta. E-mail: klapisch@northjersey.com Link Also, in another article, it seems that Sheffield is the guy most likely to be the trade-bait, going so far as to say that the trade rumors surrounding him in June and July were very, very real...if that's true, I hope the Marlins make him a target. Perhaps Lowell, Pierre and Olsen?
October 12, 200521 yr The Yankees not learning their lesson The team that won in 2000 was both farm raised talent, complemented with strong veteran Free Agents.
October 12, 200521 yr I'd rather keep our 21 year old stud pitching prospect(I dont care what anyone says, Vargas is not as good) than trade him for a guy that will be 34 and eat up about a third of our salary. Also, according to that, re-signing Damon is a priority, so they wouldn't need Pierre. But the Yanks do, so maybe we could get Sheffield from them, stick Hermida in LF, stick Aguila in CF, and hopefully the Yanks take a nice chunk of Sheffs salary.
October 12, 200521 yr Author I'd rather keep our 21 year old stud pitching prospect(I dont care what anyone says, Vargas is not as good) than trade him for a guy that will be 34 and eat up about a third of our salary. No, Vargas is not as good, but Vargas is more durable...Olsen's got mental make-up issues (if he were a selfless player and accept a demotion to the bullpen he'd have been in the rotation, not Vargas), not to mention his upper body resembles wet-noodles, I mean, he's 150 soaking wet with his pockets full of change. The Yankees seemingly want four things: a fall guy for the playoffs (Sheffield, since ARod and Johnson can't/won't be traded) a replacement for Williams in center (Pierre) a defensively capable first-baseman to allow Giambi to DH most of the time (Lowell) and a piece to use with some of their other trade chips to go get a durable front-end starter like Barry Zito (Olsen). Not to mention, the trade would free up the Yankees payroll for '06, and it would save the Marlins around $8 million in total contract value, kind of like the Hampton/CJ/Wilson payroll purge.
October 12, 200521 yr I'd rather keep our 21 year old stud pitching prospect(I dont care what anyone says, Vargas is not as good) than trade him for a guy that will be 34 and eat up about a third of our salary. No, Vargas is not as good, but Vargas is more durable...Olsen's got mental make-up issues (if he were a selfless player and accept a demotion to the bullpen he'd have been in the rotation, not Vargas), not to mention his upper body resembles wet-noodles, I mean, he's 150 soaking wet with his pockets full of change. The Yankees seemingly want four things: a fall guy for the playoffs (Sheffield, since ARod and Johnson can't/won't be traded) a replacement for Williams in center (Pierre) a defensively capable first-baseman to allow Giambi to DH most of the time (Lowell) and a piece to use with some of their other trade chips to go get a durable front-end starter like Barry Zito (Olsen). Not to mention, the trade would free up the Yankees payroll for '06, and it would save the Marlins around $8 million in total contract value, kind of like the Hampton/CJ/Wilson payroll purge. We have a ton of pitching prospects, let's not trade the best one...lets say we just put two of the lesser ones in Olsens place. I'd also want someone like Melky Cabrera included in case Aguila cant handle it in CF.
October 13, 200521 yr I would be good with Pierre, Lowell and a pitching prospect heading to New York in exchange for Pavano and salary concessions. Pavano is like a fish out of water in NY and would be a pretty good #3 or #4 starter for us. We need to acquire a veteran starter this off-season.
October 13, 200521 yr I don't see Mazzone going anywhere. Why would he? He's in a great situation in Atlanta.
October 13, 200521 yr I don't see Mazzone going anywhere. Why would he? He's in a great situation in Atlanta. need to go to NY and be yelled at by the Boss
October 13, 200521 yr I don't see why Mazzone would want to go to New York and coach a bunch of veterans who've been former all-stars and be yelled at when they screw up and don't win the world series.
October 13, 200521 yr Author Isnt Mazzone basically a shoe-in to succeed Bobby Cox in Atlanta? I've never heard that...
October 13, 200521 yr Isnt Mazzone basically a shoe-in to succeed Bobby Cox in Atlanta? I've never heard that... I dont think it has been said but wouldnt he be the logical choice to replace Cox when he retires?
October 13, 200521 yr I'd rather keep our 21 year old stud pitching prospect(I dont care what anyone says, Vargas is not as good) than trade him for a guy that will be 34 and eat up about a third of our salary. No, Vargas is not as good, but Vargas is more durable...Olsen's got mental make-up issues (if he were a selfless player and accept a demotion to the bullpen he'd have been in the rotation, not Vargas), not to mention his upper body resembles wet-noodles, I mean, he's 150 soaking wet with his pockets full of change. Olsen was injured for the last 2 or 3 months or the season, that's why he wasn't in the bullpen, not because he is selfish and wouldn't accept a demotion.
October 15, 200521 yr I don't know if I can fully beleive that, I don't think the Red Sox organization would have the balls to do that and still expect to have a large fan base
October 15, 200521 yr Author I'd rather keep our 21 year old stud pitching prospect(I dont care what anyone says, Vargas is not as good) than trade him for a guy that will be 34 and eat up about a third of our salary. No, Vargas is not as good, but Vargas is more durable...Olsen's got mental make-up issues (if he were a selfless player and accept a demotion to the bullpen he'd have been in the rotation, not Vargas), not to mention his upper body resembles wet-noodles, I mean, he's 150 soaking wet with his pockets full of change. Olsen was injured for the last 2 or 3 months or the season, that's why he wasn't in the bullpen, not because he is selfish and wouldn't accept a demotion. No, he said he wouldn't pitch out of the bullpen, the Marlins sent him down, and it turns out that he had shoulder issues. The demotion came before the arm trouble, and all was preceded by Olsen saying he'd rather start at AA than pitch out of our bullpen, something Vargas had no problem with...
October 15, 200521 yr Isnt Mazzone basically a shoe-in to succeed Bobby Cox in Atlanta? I've never heard that... I dont think it has been said but wouldnt he be the logical choice to replace Cox when he retires? I've always thought so too, but when will Bobby leave? Mazzone deserves a shot to manage somwhere IMO.
October 15, 200521 yr Isnt Mazzone basically a shoe-in to succeed Bobby Cox in Atlanta? I've never heard that... I dont think it has been said but wouldnt he be the logical choice to replace Cox when he retires? I don't think Mazzone's that much younger than Cox. I think if he wanted to manage he would've left Atlanta a long time ago.
October 18, 200521 yr From MLB.com: Yanks get permission to talk to Mazzone NEW YORK -- The Yankees have received permission to speak with Braves pitching coach Leo Mazzone, targeting him as their top choice to replace Mel Stottlemyre. ... A source confirmed that the Yankees had asked for and received permission to speak with Mazzone, though it is unclear when the two sides will speak. Mazzone has one year remaining on his contract with the Braves. ... Mazzone, who turned 57 on Sunday, had a positive impact on Jaret Wright during the pitcher's year-and-a-half stint in Atlanta. Wright endorsed the idea of Mazzone taking over for Stottlemyre last week. "He helped me out a lot, and he's done that for a lot of years with a lot of guys," Wright said. "He's a professional. I think he could do a good job." ... (Click on the link for more) Personally, I'm all in favor of Leo leaving Atlanta for... anywhere in the AL.
October 18, 200521 yr Author From MLB.com: Yanks get permission to talk to Mazzone NEW YORK -- The Yankees have received permission to speak with Braves pitching coach Leo Mazzone, targeting him as their top choice to replace Mel Stottlemyre. ... A source confirmed that the Yankees had asked for and received permission to speak with Mazzone, though it is unclear when the two sides will speak. Mazzone has one year remaining on his contract with the Braves. ... Mazzone, who turned 57 on Sunday, had a positive impact on Jaret Wright during the pitcher's year-and-a-half stint in Atlanta. Wright endorsed the idea of Mazzone taking over for Stottlemyre last week. "He helped me out a lot, and he's done that for a lot of years with a lot of guys," Wright said. "He's a professional. I think he could do a good job." ... (Click on the link for more) Personally, I'm all in favor of Leo leaving Atlanta for... anywhere in the AL. :o THANK GOD!!!!!
October 18, 200521 yr I don't see Mazzone going anywhere. I suppose he could use any offer the Yankees give him as a bargaining chip to improve his situation with the Braves. The Braves would be nuts to let him go.
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.