"NOW BATTING #99 MANNY RAMIREZ!!" Oh Renel your crazy, what are you talking about Manny wearing the creme', orange and black? Wait, what if Renel's right? What if Manny is really roaming left field at AT&T like a water buffalo in search of a watering hole, dare I say fat contract? According to Denver Post writer Troy Renck the Giants have been actively pursuing the Disgruntled Slugger. And have also contacted Scott Boras numerous times. It makes a lot of sense on manny accounts (pun intended) but there are also plenty of reasons why it does not make sense.
As perviously disscussed the Giants have solidifed their bullpen as well as strengthen their starting pitching this offseason. They also figure to upgrade their offense regardles of any moves they make due to the fact that they have defensive liability Edgar Rentira pencilied in at SS (Giants had the second worst offensive output from SS last year only Orioles had worse) they also get a full year of Pablo Sandoval whom they only got 131 ab's out of last year. Aaron Rowand also figures to bounce back from his worst season in multiple seasons and a platoon of Killer Ishi and Josh Phelps figures to be more productive than Bowker/Aurillia. So adding arguably the greatest right handed hitter of our generation to that mix would only strengthen our lineup obviously but, theres a lot to consider.
We currently have an outfield that is more crowded than a community swimming pool on the fourth of July. With Lewis, Rowand and Winn figuring to log the most innings in the outfield and with Roberts and Shierholtz on the bench we already have five outfielders. So, it would be in our best interest to move an outfielder if we were to sign Ramirez. The most obvious piece to move would be Randy Winn who has 1 year left on his contract and has consistently hit .300 while providing above average defense in right field. His value will never be higher after putting up a .306/.336/.426 line to go along with 25 sb's 10 hr and 62 rbi's from the 2 hole. Winn should be able to bring back a B prospect and an organizational filler. At the same time we have to realize Ramirez will most likely comman at leat a 2/32 million dollar contract and most likely an option year if he reaches 1000 ab's in the first two years of his contract or 200 rbi's in 2 seasons in San Fran. Ramirez also brings an average line of .314/.411/.593. At the same time we must realize that Manny's best days are behind him and at 37 he on a steady decline even if he hit 37 home runs and raked in 121 runs and hit .332. I still think it's very plausabile to see him hit .300/.400/.525 with say 30 home runs and 100 rbi's. Which would justify the price tag but given the current glut of outfielders we have I don't know if it's the wisest acquisition ecspecially because let's not kid ourselves Ramirez would be a very short term solution to our great need for a bat. I won't deny the fact that we need a bat like no other but at the same time I'm not convinced it's worth 32 million dollars to pre-maturely try to win not only the west but the world series.
The idea of signing Manny is very intruiging due to the fact that it's plausible to say we would perhaps one of the best teams in baseball once you factor in our pitching. Yes, our lineup would still be hovering average but at the same time I expect our pitching to be well above league average think elite. The ability to throw Lincecum, Cain, Sanchez/Johnson in a 5 game series is as good as any team in baseball can match which instantly makes us serious contenders once we reach the postseason. At the same I have a big problem commiting the large quantity of money we already have to a very short term solution. Lets say we sign Ramirez to a 2 year 36 million dollar contract. We have already commited 21 million dollars to four players that don't figure to fit into our plans beyond next 2 seasons in Johnson (8), Howry (4), Renteria (18) and Affeldt (8) so we have roughly 38 million dollars committed over the next two seasons from these players. And 25 million dollars commited for the 09 season just from these four players. So if you were to add Manny to that mix you would have 43 million dollars commited to next season just from this offseason alone. And don't let me start in about Zito's contract let alone Rowand. My point being, is that were spending a good chunk of change currently and unless you really believe were World Series Contenders with Manny I wouldn't touch him with a ten foot pole.
1 comment:
Not with a 20 foot pole henry. Don't get me wrong I love Barry, but the last thing this young team needs is an overpaid aging distraction roaming left field. There is no doubt that, even with his gradual decline due to age taken into account, would put up well above average numbers and most likely be an all-star, but the idea of signing him makes me wanna yuke all over Omid. My first inclination is that Sabean has been talking with Boras, but Sabean who has shown shades of competence this offseason may honestly be pretending to be interested in order to drive up the salary of Manny who he may feel will invariably sign with the Dodgers, as they are extremely desperate to sign some players after they lost so many stars this offseason. I love Freddy Lewis, and I would would much rather see his major league minimum making behind patrolling left, rather than Manny Douchebags 40 million dollar making one. So anyways, lets please stop discussing the X-Dodger(douchbag) and please enlighten us on what you would think of a possible Joe Crede aquisition.
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