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Friday, January 02, 2009

CBS 5: Giants Offer Slugger Manny Ramirez 4-Year Deal

The San Francisco Giants are pursuing free-agent slugger Manny Ramirez and have offered him a four-year deal, a well-connected source told CBS 5.

Financial terms of the contract offer were not immediately known. The deal was said by the source to contain incentives for the third year of the contract and a club option for the fourth.

In addition, the Denver Post newspaper quoted a Major League Baseball insider as saying the Giants were “quietly making an aggressive play” for Ramirez.

The chances of the Giants signing Ramirez, a 36-year-old left fielder, were unclear. A team spokesperson told CBS 5, “it’s not happening.”

So glad I posted…

Repoz Posted: January 02, 2009 at 02:03 PM | 41 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: giants, rumors

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1. faketeams Posted: January 02, 2009 at 02:36 PM (#3041920)

Makes some sense, at least putting aside everyone's hope to see Manny and his agent eat crow for the Boston behavior. There are no well-regarded prospects who will be blocked a la the Jays signing of a lefty DH type to block Adam Lind, and Manny's offense is far and away better than anything currently on the 25-man roster.

2. Craig Calcaterra Posted: January 02, 2009 at 02:48 PM (#3041921)

"A team spokesperson told CBS 5, “it’s not happening.”"

Which means that this has been created by Boras from whole cloth in an effort to pressure the Dodgers. If so, I'd like to see Sabean come out in a press conference and say that this is utter bunk, and that he believes it is Scott Boras trying to play Colletti or whoever else and that he won't be a part of it.

All that said, I'd kind of like to see Manny on the Giants if for no other reason that I like baseball better when the Giants are interesting for some reason.

3. The Pequod Posted: January 02, 2009 at 03:10 PM (#3041923)

God I hope Manny gets a deal like this, if only to embarrass all the indignant sportswriters who have been pounding away with the "shame on Manny, Boras is evil" thing for the past 6 months.

4. RB in NYC (Now Semi-Retired from BBTF) Posted: January 02, 2009 at 03:14 PM (#3041924)

"A team spokesperson told CBS 5, “it’s not happening.”"

Which means that this has been created by Boras from whole cloth in an effort to pressure the Dodgers.

"It's clear [Alex Roriguez] didn't want to be a Yankee," Hank Steinbrenner told the Daily News last night. "He doesn't understand the privilege of being a Yankee on a team where the owners are willing to pay $200 million to put a winning product on the field.

"We're not going to back down," Steinbrenner said. "It's goodbye."

And so on. I'm not denying that this could be a Boras rumor, but I don't see why a team denial should be regarded as truthful.

5. Russ Posted: January 02, 2009 at 03:25 PM (#3041927)

If so, I'd like to see Sabean come out in a press conference and say that this is utter bunk, and that he believes it is Scott Boras trying to play Colletti or whoever else and that he won't be a part of it.

Yes, it's completely in Sabean's best interest to help the Dodgers pay less for Ramirez.

/crazy

6. villageidiom Posted: January 02, 2009 at 03:27 PM (#3041928)

I'll second RB's post, except use Mark Teixeira as the example. When Boston announced they wouldn't be a factor because of another bid, Cashman said the other bid wasn't theirs. Wonder whatever happened to that Teixeira kid?

7. The Pequod Posted: January 02, 2009 at 03:30 PM (#3041930)

Apparently you two never received the memo:

Only Bor-A$$ lies and manipulates the media!!!!!1

8. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: January 02, 2009 at 03:41 PM (#3041933)

I'll second RB's post, except use Mark Teixeira as the example. When Boston announced they wouldn't be a factor because of another bid, Cashman said the other bid wasn't theirs. Wonder whatever happened to that Teixeira kid?

There were also various reports of the Red Sox being the top bidder for Teixeira right before the Yankee contract made the news. I don't think these reports arose out of nothing at all - even after Henry said they were not in the running for Teixeira, they were still trying to sign Teixeira.

I don't begrudge teams and agents lying to the media. It's clearly an accepted part of the negotiation process, based on its frequency. What I don't get is (a) the willingness of our sports media to play stenographer to this bluster, and (b) the willingness of fans to believe every word of it, unless they can pin it on Boras.

9. OCD SS Posted: January 02, 2009 at 03:42 PM (#3041934)

Yes, it's completely in Sabean's best interest to help the Dodgers pay less for Ramirez.

It probably is in his best interest in the long term to not help Boras escalate the FA market. It could wind up that down the line Manny's deal will be a benchmark Boras uses for someone Sabean would like to sign.

10. Barry`s_Lazy_Boy Posted: January 02, 2009 at 03:51 PM (#3041939)

the willingness of our sports media to play stenographer to this bluster

"scoop"

11. Dewey, Steven Wright Wannabe and Soupuss Posted: January 02, 2009 at 04:09 PM (#3041944)

What I don't get is (a) the willingness of our sports media to play stenographer to this bluster

The fans want to hear it. If one reporter decides not to run with a story because there's not enough to back it up, baseball fans will go to the places that do run the story.

I've sort of made it my policy to not really believe a trade or signing rumor unless the "source" is named.

12. GGC don't think it can get longer than a novella Posted: January 02, 2009 at 04:11 PM (#3041947)

The fans want to hear it.

Maybe some do, but I tend to ignore trades and signings until they happen. When it comes to the offseason, I find the HOF debates and awards debates more interesting than the rumor mill and I don't really get worked up about the HOF either.

13. GGC don't think it can get longer than a novella Posted: January 02, 2009 at 04:18 PM (#3041949)

In fact, you might say that Joey B. cares more about Barry Bonds than I do about offseason rumors!

14. RB in NYC (Now Semi-Retired from BBTF) Posted: January 02, 2009 at 04:26 PM (#3041953)

In fact, you might say that Joey B. cares more about Barry Bonds than I do about offseason rumors!

Someone needs to invent the "Care Spectrum" which would range from like, the extreme extent of care ("Teenage Girls Regarding How Other People Think of Them") to the the extreme of indifference ("How Allen Iverson Feels About Practice").

15. Joey B. has ignited his October #Natitude Posted: January 02, 2009 at 04:27 PM (#3041955)

Great, I've got another little puppy dog who's personally obsessed with me now.

16. SoSHially Unacceptable Posted: January 02, 2009 at 04:35 PM (#3041958)

Great, I've got another little puppy dog who's personally obsessed with me now.

I think you're taking yourself a bit too seriously here Joey.

Though on the flip side, maybe Jon can finally get an enemy, so perhaps it's all for the good.

17. GGC don't think it can get longer than a novella Posted: January 02, 2009 at 04:38 PM (#3041961)

Hey, at least I don't think that you're a figment of kevin's imagination.

18. Dewey, Steven Wright Wannabe and Soupuss Posted: January 02, 2009 at 04:39 PM (#3041963)

When it comes to the offseason, I find the HOF debates and awards debates more interesting than the rumor mill and I don't really get worked up about the HOF either.

I think the rumor mill is interesting, but more as a thought experiment (does this trade/signing make sense?) than anything else.

19. FBI Regional Bureau Chief GORDON COLE!!! Posted: January 02, 2009 at 04:43 PM (#3041964)

Great, I've got another little puppy dog who's personally obsessed with me now.

Grow a sense of humor already. Sheesh. And lose the stalker-victim complex while you're at it. Nobody's "personally obsessed" with you.

20. billyshears Posted: January 02, 2009 at 04:53 PM (#3041973)

So basically the Giants offered Manny a two year deal with a vesting option for the third year. Without a significant buyout, the club option for the fourth year is of no value to Manny and shouldn't be added to the length of the contract offer, unless one is specifically trying to make a point of the length of the deal offered, which indicates that this was floated by Boras. Either that, or we still live in the CC Sabathia inspired "Maybe the other party will exercise the option in a way that helps us" universe.

21. 3Com Park Posted: January 02, 2009 at 04:55 PM (#3041976)

One of the interesting things about this rumor and this team is that it mirrors the Renteria story.

Apparently O'Donnell's (KPIX reporter) source is the same person in the Giants organization as the one for the original Renteria story. The Giants' response was "Deny, deny, deny," but look what happened.

22. Pops Freshenmeyer Posted: January 02, 2009 at 04:59 PM (#3041980)

Doesn't Sabean have a standing rule that he refuses to speak with reporters? IIRC, he thinks the media stuff is a circus. It's pretty obvious to me this would extend to denying everything if a leak takes place.

I wouldn't put any stock in a denial from SF.

23. GGC don't think it can get longer than a novella Posted: January 02, 2009 at 05:01 PM (#3041981)

I think the rumor mill is interesting, but more as a thought experiment (does this trade/signing make sense?) than anything else.

From what I can tell, it looks like the Giants are in a win now mode; what with the Johnson signing. It probably makes sense in that division.

24. Iwakuma Chameleon (jonathan) Posted: January 02, 2009 at 05:04 PM (#3041983)

Maybe some do, but I tend to ignore trades and signings until they happen. When it comes to the offseason, I find the HOF debates and awards debates more interesting than the rumor mill and I don't really get worked up about the HOF either.

God bless you for it, lord knows all this constant disinformation with transaction rumors feels a bit over the top, but I still have the feeling you're in the vast minority in feeling that way.

With Manny (and Renteria and Unit and Howry/Affeldt), I have to think the Giants are very legitimate contenders in the NL West, if not the favorites.

25. The Pequod Posted: January 02, 2009 at 05:08 PM (#3041985)

What I don't get is (a) the willingness of our sports media to play stenographer to this bluster, and (b) the willingness of fans to believe every word of it, unless they can pin it on Boras.

What kills me is that everyone is so willing to question motives when a big offer leaks (say, Manny to SF for 3 years/$75M), but they just lap it up when Buster Olney cites a "baseball source" that says there are no suitors for Manny. Think an executive just might have an interest in painting an image of a depressed market for a player?

26. Dewey, Steven Wright Wannabe and Soupuss Posted: January 02, 2009 at 05:16 PM (#3041988)

but they just lap it up when Buster Olney cites a "baseball source" that says there are no suitors for Manny.

Who is "everyone"? Joey B.?

27. Jeff K. Posted: January 02, 2009 at 05:18 PM (#3041989)

And lose the stalker-victim complex while you're at it. Nobody's "personally obsessed" with you.

Concur, especially since he somehow counts me in that group. I, as always, merely point out that the number of posts I've made directly referencing him (and the number GGC has made) is, at the very most, 1/100th of the number of posts in which he has brought up Barry Bonds in a non-Barry Bonds thread. If I'm personally obsessed with Joey, then Barry had better invest in some bodyguards and keep his pet rabbit in his sight at all times.

28. Brian

Posted: January 02, 2009 at 06:26 PM (#3042027)

Grow a sense of humor already. Sheesh. And lose the stalker-victim complex while you're at it. Nobody's "personally obsessed" with you.

I beg to differ. After that whole Amy Fisher thing I think Joey B. had quite a lot of people obsessed with him.

29. The Pequod Posted: January 02, 2009 at 06:28 PM (#3042030)

Who is "everyone"? Joey B.?

Maybe not here, but it just annoys me that the conventional wisdom seems to be that Boras is a good fer nuthin' liar and that Manny is just such a bad boy that no team is interested.

30. Harveys Wallbangers

Posted: January 02, 2009 at 06:31 PM (#3042031)

Actually, Boras is very GOOD at taking a kernel of truth and dressing it up as a 10 foot high stalk.

And teams will have interest in Manny. Just not at Manny's desired rate.

He wants CEO compensation and right now teams are willing to go middle manager......

31. FBI Regional Bureau Chief GORDON COLE!!! Posted: January 02, 2009 at 06:46 PM (#3042045)

I beg to differ. After that whole Amy Fisher thing I think Joey B. had quite a lot of people obsessed with him.

Nice.

32. Joey B. has ignited his October #Natitude Posted: January 02, 2009 at 07:00 PM (#3042054)

Actually, Boras is very GOOD at taking a kernel of truth and dressing it up as a 10 foot high stalk.

Best as I can tell, not so much as one additional media outlet has yet picked up this so-called offer as a legitimate story, not even the S.F. Chronicle. I think it's also the first time I've seen such a terse denial as "it's not happening" appear in the same story as the breaking report itself.

Clearly someone is lying here. I know who I consider the prime suspect to be!

33. Gonfalon Bubble Posted: January 02, 2009 at 07:30 PM (#3042072)

BONDS!

34. Foghorn Leghorn Posted: January 02, 2009 at 08:06 PM (#3042112)

I thought the Giants didn't sign Bonds as a youth movement. Unit, edgar and Manny? I'd rather have Bonds.

35. A triple short of the cycle

Posted: January 02, 2009 at 08:08 PM (#3042115)

I don't begrudge teams and agents lying to the media. It's clearly an accepted part of the negotiation process, based on its frequency. What I don't get is (a) the willingness of our sports media to play stenographer to this bluster, and (b) the willingness of fans to believe every word of it, unless they can pin it on Boras.

Like sports, like politics/current events. It's exactly the same thing.

I've sort of made it my policy to not really believe a trade or signing rumor unless the "source" is named.

A good policy that should be applied to politics/current events as well.

36. Tom Nawrocki Posted: January 02, 2009 at 08:12 PM (#3042119)

Best as I can tell, not so much as one additional media outlet has yet picked up this so-called offer as a legitimate story, not even the S.F. Chronicle.

The Denver Post reported yesterday that the Giants were aggressively pursuing Manny.

37. Joey B. has ignited his October #Natitude Posted: January 02, 2009 at 08:28 PM (#3042149)

The Denver Post reported yesterday that the Giants were aggressively pursuing Manny.

True, but it doesn't invalidate my point an iota. I'm still waiting for this offer to be reported and confirmed by another media outlet.

The only thing the Chronicle still has in fact is a blog post from a Giants beat reporter saying that he "wouldn't put much stock in that Denver Post report".

Perhaps the offer is legit, but I would certainly think that all the S.F. media outlets would be all over such a big piece of news, wouldn't you?

38. Tripon Posted: January 02, 2009 at 08:45 PM (#3042187)

http://www.fannation.com/si_blogs/hot_stove/posts/37261

Heyman says that the Giants are 'confirmed' in the Manny Sweepstakes, but doesn't even list his own source. Also, the Angels are supposedly in it, despite saying they won't be signing Manny. Eh.

39. Dr Stankus and the Semicolons Posted: January 02, 2009 at 10:35 PM (#3042296)

I don't really get worked up about the HOF either.

Truthfully, I don't think you get too worked up about anything, ever since your ex-wife left town.

40. J. Michael Neal Posted: January 03, 2009 at 01:18 AM (#3042382)

Grow a sense of humor already. Sheesh. And lose the stalker-victim complex while you're at it. Nobody's "personally obsessed" with you.

Who?

41. Dr Stankus and the Semicolons Posted: January 03, 2009 at 08:21 PM (#3042671)

JMN,

I'm going to guess Joey B is the answer to #40

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CBS 5: Giants Offer Slugger Manny Ramirez 4-Year Deal

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