October 30, 200322 yr Credit: BostonHerald.com Manny placed on waivers: Any team claiming slugger would have to absorb salary By Michael Silverman Thursday, October 30, 2003 Just two days after dumping their manager, the Red Sox last night tried to reshape their team even more drastically. Now they're trying to rid themselves of superstar Manny Ramirez. In a bold and shocking move designed to restructure their top-heavy payroll, the Red Sox placed Ramirez and his hefty contract on irrevocable waivers. The move is not guaranteed to work, but the Red Sox would be ecstatic if another team - and this probably includes only the moneybag Yankees - decides before tomorrow night at midnight to pick up the remaining $100 million-plus remaining in Ramirez' massive contract, which runs for another five seasons and includes two options for 2009 and 2010. If no team bites, Ramirez, 30, will remain a Red Sox, but the club will no longer be able to privately conceal its extreme reluctance to devote so much of its $100 million payroll to a ballplayer who it feels is gifted in one area - hitting a baseball about as well as anyone can - and about nowhere else. The Red Sox grew fed up with Ramirez' defense and his man-child moments of inattention and immaturity this season, and the team clearly is positioning itself for greater payroll flexibility this winter, as it faces several critical decisions on players signed through next season only. Long-term contract decisions on Pedro Martinez, Nomar Garciaparra, Jason Varitek, Derek Lowe and Trot Nixon, for starters, await and with Ramirez acting as a drag on the club's checkbook, the club obviously values payroll flexibility above Ramirez' ability to consistently and reliably hit about 35 to 40 home runs with 100-plus RBI. Ramirez batted .325 last season, finishing one point behind teammate Bill Mueller for the batting title, and belted 37 homers with 104 RBI. About the only team capable of swallowing such a deal is the Yankees, whose brain trust last night had already gathered in Tampa, Fla., so that owner George Steinbrenner could help them absorb their six-game loss to the Marlins in the World Series. This move will put immediate and obvious pressure on the Yankees to decide if Ramirez, who grew up in Washington Heights, Manhattan, would be worth the risk. Ramirez has expressed his admiration for the Yankees before. The Yankees have an obvious hole to fill in their lineup and in right field, and for many reasons, Ramirez fits their needs, especially since their offense was found to be so lacking in the Fall Classic. Steinbrenner is a difficult employer to predict. His, or the Yankees', decision on whether or not to pick up Ramirez will be fascinating. Irrevocable waivers mean the club cannot pull the player back if another claims him. Players are sometimes placed on revocable waivers in order to gauge trade interest. If a team claims him, the waiving team can pull him back. The reverberations of this move will be felt throughout baseball, as the Red Sox are signaling that they have lost all patience with Ramirez and need to make the most dramatic, if not the most obvious, move they can to increase their ability to wheel and deal this winter. If the Red Sox are able to unload Ramirez on the Yankees or some other suddenly flush-feeling team, they will have that much more ability to go out and get another starting pitcher, another quality reliever or two and strengthen their defense as well. If the Red Sox cannot unload Ramirez, they could still try to trade him and be forced to swallow a great deal of the remaining contract, an option the club would not be thrilled about. That is why they went yesterday's route, trying to cut their ties with Ramirez completely and swiftly. If they still cannot trade Ramirez, the 2004 spring training promises to be more entertaining than usual as Ramirez reports to a ballclub that has sent a none-too-subtle message that he no longer is wanted. Ramirez lost much of the confidence of the front office after his get-together with the Yankees' Enrique Wilson at the Ritz in late August, when Ramirez was supposed to be recuperating from pharyngitis. Ramirez missed his doctor's appointment the next morning and when the club played a tight ballgame in Philadelphia shortly after and Ramirez said he could not pinch hit, that set in motion his unofficial benching by then-manager Grady Little. Ramirez, signed by former general manager Dan Duquette in December of 2000, is due $20.5 million in 2004, $20 million in 2005, $19 million in 2006, $18 million in 2007, $20 million in 2008. He will also make $4 million a year in deferred, no-interest salary between this coming season and 2010, plus he has $10 million remaining from his $16 million signing bonus still coming. He made a $100,000 bonus yesterday for being named a Silver Slugger. His club options for 2009 and 2010 are each worth $20 million.
October 30, 200322 yr Red Sox place Ramirez on waivers After deciding that his off-the-field incidents outweigh his production, Boston puts slugger Manny Ramirez and his prohibitive contract on irrevocable waivers. 01:00 AM EST on Thursday, October 30, 2003 BY SEAN McADAM Journal Sports Writer BOSTON -- In a stunning move that provides the clearest evidence yet that the Red Sox are determined to rid themselves of Manny Ramirez, the club placed the controversial slugger on irrevocable waivers yesterday, sources outside the organization confirmed last night. The waivers exist for 48 hours, running through tomorrow. If a team puts a claim in for Ramirez, the Red Sox would lose him and not be able to pull him back. However, the Sox would also be free of the more than $95 million Ramirez has owed to him in remaining base salary. Ramirez has five more years left on an eight-year, $160 million deal that was signed with Boston in December of 2000. The club also holds options on a seventh and eighth season. Boston's displeasure with Ramirez was well-known following a string of incidents in late August and early September. Ramirez missed a critical three-game weekend series with the New York Yankees because of illness, but was spotted socializing with Yankee infielder Enrique Wilson that Saturday night in a Boston hotel lobby. After failing to report for a scheduled examination with the team's medical staff the following day, Ramirez accompanied the Sox to Philadelphia for a Labor Day makeup game against the Phillies, then repeatedly declined requests to pinch-hit. The day after, as the team began a series in Chicago, Ramriez was benched by then-manager Grady Little. His actions enraged management and began internal talk of dealing him this off-season, with the full knowledge that the Sox would likely have to eat much of his remaining money. Placing Ramirez on irrevocable waivers serves a two-fold purpose for the Sox. At the very least, it signals to 29 other teams a willingness to deal Ramirez and could lead to future trade talks. Secondly, it gives the Sox an opportunity to slice Ramirez's eight-figure financial commitment from their books altogether. Baseball sources said last night that the Yankees would be the team most likely to claim Ramirez. Stinging from a World Series defeat, owner George Steinbrenner has temporarily stripped general manager Brian Cashman of his power, taken control of the team himself and signaled an intent to radically overhaul his roster. The Yankees' need for a power-hitting outfielder, coupled with the opportunity to weaken the Red Sox, may prove alluring for Steinbrenner. Ramirez has always hit well in Yankee Stadium, which is perfectly suited for the right-handed hitter's opposite-field power. While the Yankees represent the best bet to claim Ramirez, they're not the only teams likely to at least give the idea consideration. The New York Mets, also in need of outfield power and seeking to reclaim some attention from the Yankees, might also be interested. The Baltimore Orioles, free of tens of millions of contractual obligations this year and eager to again become players in the A.L. East, are another possibility. Slightly less interested might be the Anaheim Angels and Los Angeles Dodgers. Ramirez told ESPN's Joe Morgan in late August that it was a "dream" of his to someday play for the Yankees. Though born in the Dominican Republic, Ramirez was raised in the Washington Heights section of Manhattan, not far from the Bronx. At the same time, Ramirez has told players on at least one other American League team -- not the Yankees -- that he would prefer to play for them rather than remain with the Red Sox. It's possible that Ramirez, through Moorad, may have more formally communicated a wish to the Red Sox of his preference to play elsewhere. If the Sox could trim approximately $20 million from their payroll, allowing them to invest in other desirable free agents and fostering a more selfless approach for their roster, they would be only too happy to grant Ramirez his wish. In his three seasons to date with the Red Sox, Ramirez has hit .300 each year and collected more than 30 homers and more than 100 RBI. He won the American League batting title in 2002 and knocked in 100 or more runs in eight of his nine major league seasons, the first six of which were spent with the Cleveland Indians. But the Red Sox have decided that for all his offensive excellence, Ramirez is no bargain -- on the payroll or in the clubhouse. Ramirez will make $20.2 next season -- the single-highest annual salary over the life of the contract. He'll be paid $19.6 million in 2005, $18.5 million in 2006, $17.4 million in 2007 and $19.3 million in 2008.
October 30, 200322 yr He goes nowhere. Too much $ Too much attitude Not enough contribution to the team
October 30, 200322 yr If he is on waivers, and anybody can claim him... Can you say, Yankee? This could be one of the Boss' major changes...
October 30, 200322 yr No wonder the Red Sox are "cursed!" The Red Sox keep extending reasons for the curse. Minor infractions are not reasons to release Manny Ramirez.
October 30, 200322 yr the guys a clubhouse cancer. I wouldn't want him. I don't think it's a matter of being a clubhouse cancer. I hate to claim this as a reason for it, but he never seemed to be a problem before this season, and this years Red Sox were predominantely white. It seemed as if the only players he got along with were Pedro Martinez and David Ortiz, two of few ethinic players on the team.
October 30, 200322 yr the guys a clubhouse cancer. I wouldn't want him. I don't think it's a matter of being a clubhouse cancer. I hate to claim this as a reason for it, but he never seemed to be a problem before this season, and this years Red Sox were predominantely white. It seemed as if the only players he got along with were Pedro Martinez and David Ortiz, two of few ethinic players on the team. No way man, Manny's problems had nothing to do with the race card this year. The guy has had less documented problems before this year, and he isn't worth 20 million dollars a year at all.
October 30, 200322 yr Manny Ramirez is a complete a**hole. Back when he was down here in Scranton for Rehab, their were a line of kids in Red Sox Gear wanting to get an autograph from him. Every Minor League player signed for the kids except Manny who taunted them and laughed as he walked into THe Dugout without signing a single autograph. He also refused to hangout with anyone else except for one Dominican Player and it wasn't a matter of who spoke Spanish because their were a few. He is a bona fide A Hole.
October 30, 200322 yr Manny Ramirez is a complete a**hole. Back when he was down here in Scranton for Rehab, their were a line of kids in Red Sox Gear wanting to get an autograph from him. Every Minor League player signed for the kids except Manny who taunted them and laughed as he walked into THe Dugout without signing a single autograph. He also refused to hangout with anyone else except for one Dominican Player and it wasn't a matter of who spoke Spanish because their were a few. He is a bona fide A Hole. Pipen did the same thing when I saw him in "Atlantis" in the Bahamas.
October 30, 200322 yr Manny Ramirez is a complete a**hole. Back when he was down here in Scranton for Rehab, their were a line of kids in Red Sox Gear wanting to get an autograph from him. Every Minor League player signed for the kids except Manny who taunted them and laughed as he walked into THe Dugout without signing a single autograph. He also refused to hangout with anyone else except for one Dominican Player and it wasn't a matter of who spoke Spanish because their were a few. He is a bona fide A Hole. Pipen did the same thing when I saw him in "Atlantis" in the Bahamas. since when has Pippen been anything but an A Hole?
October 30, 200322 yr Manny is a major Ahole. He wants to go to NY. NY is full of the biggest Aholes in the game already. He belongs there. He and George will love each other.
October 30, 200322 yr Manny is a major Ahole. He wants to go to NY. NY is full of the biggest Aholes in the game already. He belongs there. He and George will love each other. :lol The more I think about it, the more he looks to be a Met.
October 30, 200322 yr Manny is a major Ahole. He wants to go to NY. NY is full of the biggest Aholes in the game already. He belongs there. He and George will love each other. :lol The more I think about it, the more he looks to be a Met. Nah, in about 5 years when he's 35, washed up beyond belief,and struggling to play half of the seasons games, THEN he will be fit to be a Met.
October 31, 200322 yr Yankees have said they don't want him. Orioles might. A big bat for their DH role.
October 31, 200322 yr I heard a rumor that the Diamondbacks were thinking about trying to trade Curt Schilling, Matt Mantei, and Junior Spivey for him...I sure hope this is a bunch of horse crap.
November 1, 200322 yr You mean no one picked him up? Let me try and suppress my shock. And how much attitude are the Red Sox in for next season since Manny knows they tried to dump him? Ramirez still belongs to Boston Red Sox slugger on waivers goes unclaimed By Ian Browne / MLB.com? ? BOSTON -- For 48 hours, premier slugger Manny Ramirez was available to 29 teams. A simple waiver claim was all it would have taken to pry a hitter who is all but automatic to hit .300 with 35 homers and 100 RBIs every year. But in the end, the price tag -- close to $100 million dollars for five seasons -- was apparently too stiff. And that's why Ramirez is still a member of the Boston Red Sox, two days after they reportedly put their high-priced cleanup man on irrevocable waivers. More than one hour after today's 1 p.m. deadline passed, a club spokesman confirmed that Ramirez was still property of the Red Sox. Additionally, The Boston Globe reported on its website that Ramirez cleared waivers. As per rules of Major League Baseball, the Red Sox were not able to confirm or deny if Ramirez was placed on waivers. Though Ramirez won't leave the Red Sox via the waiver route, this story doesn't figure to end here. The Red Sox, faced with major decisions regarding player salaries this winter, are likely to explore trade options with Ramirez in order to ease their payroll. The team already has nearly $85 million committed to 11 players for next season. Several other players could get significant raises in arbitration. Ramirez has five years left on the eight-year, $160 million deal he signed with Boston's former ownership group in December, 2000. The current regime, led by the ownership group of John Henry, Tom Werner and Admin Lucchino, is left to foot the bulk of the hefty tab. And general manager Theo Epstein is the one responsible for fielding a championship-caliber team at a cost his bosses can afford. While Ramirez is under contract for five more years, star shortstop Nomar Garciaparra and ace Pedro Martinez both have pacts that expire at the end of the 2004 season. A considerable part of the core -- Derek Lowe, Jason Varitek and Trot Nixon -- will also be eligible for free agency at that time. With Ramirez's hefty salary still on the books, it will certainly be a challenge for the Sox to sign the majority of those players to long-term extensions. The Red Sox will likely be hard-pressed to trade Ramirez without picking up a substantial amount of his salary. There might not be a trade out there that works, in which case Ramirez will be back for a fourth season in Boston. If that's the case, Ramirez will be fine, according to agent Jeff Moorad. "He'll be just fine if he's back in Boston next season," Moorad told The Boston Globe. "After an initial adjustment period, Manny has been happy in Boston and he will certainly continue to be that way if he's back in Boston next season. We understand that trades and waivers alike are part of the baseball landscape and business." The Yankees, Orioles and Dodgers, it was speculated, were teams that might have had the financial capability to pick up Ramirez on the waiver wire. But in the end, no team felt it could take on such a significant salary acquisition, albeit one with such a big bat.
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.