It's official now. The Red Sox have traded Manny Ramirez, along with Craig Hansen and Brandon Moss. They receive Jason Bay in return. The Dodgers also shipped two prospects to the Pirates. The Sox also have to pick up the remainder of Manny's contract for the 2008 season.
Craig Hansen is a total bust and I don't mind losing him. But I'll miss Brandon Moss. For my money, he's a better player than Jacoby Ellsbury.
But this deal wasn't about making the Red Sox better by acquiring talent. It was about getting rid of a major problem and trying to get something in return. They got a good something back in Bay, who is younger than Manny, cheaper than Manny, and is putting up similar numbers to Manny this year.
This deal reminds me of the Nomar deal in '04. The Sox got rid of a problem, got a solid replacement in Orlando Cabrera, and went on to win the World Series. Hopefully this deal will have similar results.
Adios, Manny. We'll always have the good times, but you won't be missed.
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Rob, I would be interested to hear your take on this post from The Big Lead:
ReplyDeletehttp://thebiglead.com/?p=6939
Do you think there is anything to what Manny said re: Nomar and Pedro? Both of those guys were heroes in Beantown and were pretty much dumped, like Manny.
Pedro wasn't dumped. He wasn't re-signed. He wanted a longer deal than the Red Sox were willing to give him. Pedro's made 30 starts in 4 years with the Mets, so that looks like an insanely smart decision by the Sox.
ReplyDeleteNomar was a major cancer. Once they traded him, the team turned around, went on a tear, and won the freaking World Series. He too hasn't exactly been amazing in Chicago or LA.
The insinuation that Pedro, Nomar, and Manny were run out of town because they're Latinos is ludicrous. The best player on the Red Sox right now is David Ortiz, and Nomar was traded for Columbian Orlando Cabrera.
That post was simple-minded sensationalistic garbage.