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Highest bid nets Manny Ramirez
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Posted by: min0 lee
Highest bid nets Manny Ramirez
BY ADAM RUBIN
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Friday, October 17th 2008, 9:19 AM
LOS ANGELES - Manny Ramirez expressed appreciation for the Dodger Stadium fans in the left field stands who chanted, "Stay, Manny, stay," during Wednesday's ninth inning. But an hour later, after Philadelphia had eliminated Los Angeles in Game 5 of the NLCS to advance to its first World Series since 1993, Ramirez made it clear what his priority would be in free agency: maximizing his income. After all, he kidded, gas prices are at an all-time high.
The 36-year-old Ramirez, who arrived in Los Angeles at the July31 trade deadline in a three-team deal that landed Jason Bay in Boston, hit .396 with 17 homers and 53 RBI in 53 games as a Dodger the remainder of the regular season. He then hit .520 with four homers, 10 RBI and 11 walks in eight postseason games, which included a three-game sweep of the favored Cubs in the division series.
"I think I showed everybody here that I'm a five-tool player - can run, can hit, play the outfield, steal bases," Ramirez said.
Ramirez expressed no burning desire to return to the Dodgers or to play anywhere else in particular. (Well, he did joke that Kansas City was out of the question.) His winter home is in Miami, and he indicated he has no geographical preference, since his children would be in school in the city where he relocates. Agent Scott Boras had $20 million options for 2009 and '10 dropped from Ramirez's deal when he was traded to the Dodgers, so clearly the goal is exceeding that average annual contract value over a longer period.
While Mets GM Omar Minaya has long admired Ramirez, it would appear the organization would be better served spending its dollars elsewhere this winter - and not just because Ramirez should be 40 by the time his next contract expires, raising the potential of injury that has haunted the Mets at the back end of recent deals.
The Mets have four major contracts - totaling $31 million - coming off the books with the deals for Pedro Martinez, Oliver Perez, Moises Alou and Orlando Hernandez having expired. Because Johan Santana, David Wright and Jose Reyes are due raises totaling more than $5 million, the Mets have roughly $26 million to spend this winter to keep the payroll in line with this past season's $143 million. Allotting nearly all of that winter budget to Ramirez would leave the Mets with not much financial leverage to address two starting rotation spots and the bullpen, including Billy Wagner's successor as closer.
At least it's clear what criteria is important to Ramirez regarding his next employer, unlike fellow Dodgers free-agent-to-be Derek Lowe, whom baseball executives believe likes Detroit. (He was born in Dearborn, Mich.)
Asked what he was worth now, Ramirez said with a laugh: "I don't know. I guess you've got to talk to my agent about that."
Ramirez said the Dodgers fans' reaction to him that last game, when they implored him to stay, reminded him of Cleveland fans in 2000. That winter Ramirez signed with Boston as a free agent.
"I'm going to be home enjoying myself," Ramirez said. "The sky's the limit. Let's see what's going to happen."
Posted by: P-funk
fuck manny
Posted by: IainDaniel
if he paid me enough sure 
Posted by: soxmuscle
He wants a deal through his age 42 season.
Posted by: lnvanry
bring him to Chicago...we'll take him at Wrigley
Posted by: oaktownboy
I hope he stays in L.A. He's a good fit there. Plus, it gives me a reason to root for the Dodgers. God knows they suck without him.
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