Manny to the Dodgers

[nickagneta]

I don't think they had much of a choice, manny quit. At least they got something for him. How can you complain when you make 20 million a year on a winning team and the fans love you? What a jerk.

very sad. cant believe they traded him. our whole season is waisted now.
other teams are trying to get better and we get rid of our best player, instead of getting a good shortstop.

will miss manny,

Yeah, it's sad to see someone with his skills go. But it's a relief to get rid of someone with his baggage.

Let's not forget that he "injured" himself for the last 6 weeks of 2006 when the team was still in it. All it would have taken was one slide into second base and we could very well have lost Manny for the rest of this season to with an "injury".
 
Where would we have been then?

[Chris]

Now that I have had a little bit of time to digest this trade, it is making more and more sense.  At first I thought it was just an addition by subtraction thing to get us through this year, and not completely give it away.  But now I am thinking there was much more to it than that.

I think the biggest benefit of this trade (and why the Sox overpaid to get it done) is that it will leave the team in a much better position this offseason. 

No matter what, it had become clear that Manny was gone this offseason, so they were either trading him now, or letting him walk and taking the picks.  If the Sox did let them walk this offseason, they would then have to find a replacement in the offseason.  This means they would have had to either pay someone like Texiera an inordinate amount of money, or get someone who is a major downgrade, or they would have had to make a trade for someone like Bay or Holliday, which at that point would have cost MUCH more than Hansen and Moss.  By getting Bay now, they essentially are trading the two first round picks, Hansen and Moss, which is not bad value, and then they still have a ton of extra cash left over (since Bay is on a bargain contract next year) to upgrade another position.  When you combine that with the possibility that this move could help to get the team chemistry back on track, it makes a whole lot of sense IMO.

[nickagneta]

Now that I have had a little bit of time to digest this trade, it is making more and more sense.  At first I thought it was just an addition by subtraction thing to get us through this year, and not completely give it away.  But now I am thinking there was much more to it than that.

I think the biggest benefit of this trade (and why the Sox overpaid to get it done) is that it will leave the team in a much better position this offseason. 

No matter what, it had become clear that Manny was gone this offseason, so they were either trading him now, or letting him walk and taking the picks.  If the Sox did let them walk this offseason, they would then have to find a replacement in the offseason.  This means they would have had to either pay someone like Texiera an inordinate amount of money, or get someone who is a major downgrade, or they would have had to make a trade for someone like Bay or Holliday, which at that point would have cost MUCH more than Hansen and Moss.  By getting Bay now, they essentially are trading the two first round picks, Hansen and Moss, which is not bad value, and then they still have a ton of extra cash left over (since Bay is on a bargain contract next year) to upgrade another position.  When you combine that with the possibility that this move could help to get the team chemistry back on track, it makes a whole lot of sense IMO.

Great point Chris!

Instead of having to find a replacement in left, at shortstop and some additional pitching, they can concentrate on dumping and replacing Lugo and spending saved cash on starting pitching and some bullpen help.

If the money saved by not having to spend $12 million - $20 million+ on a slugger can now go to a guy like Sabathia to assure long term pitching strength and postseason appearances.

If it means we get Sabathia in the offseason, I love it. Bay isn't Manny, but he's a better hitter than Lowell, Youk, or Drew who all probably would have shared time in the slot behind Big Papi if Bay wasn't here.

[Nerf DPOY]

The offensive dropoff from Manny to Bay is minimal, for starters. Factor in that the Sox were near the top of the AL in most offensive categories while being without the services of Ortiz for a good stretch, and I'm really don't think that we've crippled our lineup.

And heck, now Moss will finally get a chance. Good for him.

[oldmanspeaks]

As someone who is familiar with both players, the dropoff from Manny to Bay is not minimal. Bay is a good guy and a decent hitter but he is no Manny by any stretch. He has no where near the bat control for a high OBP like Manny typically has and his power is OK but not great. Think Drew in his off year. By the way, Manny's arm is stronger but Bay is a better fielder.

[Bankshot]

I don't think they had much of a choice, manny quit. At least they got something for him. How can you complain when you make 20 million a year on a winning team and the fans love you? What a jerk.

very sad. cant believe they traded him. our whole season is waisted now.
other teams are trying to get better and we get rid of our best player, instead of getting a good shortstop.

will miss manny,

Yeah, it's sad to see someone with his skills go. But it's a relief to get rid of someone with his baggage.

Let's not forget that he "injured" himself for the last 6 weeks of 2006 when the team was still in it. All it would have taken was one slide into second base and we could very well have lost Manny for the rest of this season to with an "injury".
 
Where would we have been then?

I'm sick of people saying Manny quit in 2006 when MANAGEMENT gave up on the team first by trading the #2 starter (David Wells) at the deadline.  I don't understand how people either miss or totally ignore that.  They were not still in it.... statistically, yes, but realistically, no.  At least management didn't think so.  Remember the team was decimated with injuries.  That, coupled with management trading their 2nd best pitcher made it impossible for the Sox to make the playoffs.

[winsomme]

I don't think they had much of a choice, manny quit. At least they got something for him. How can you complain when you make 20 million a year on a winning team and the fans love you? What a jerk.

very sad. cant believe they traded him. our whole season is waisted now.
other teams are trying to get better and we get rid of our best player, instead of getting a good shortstop.

will miss manny,

Yeah, it's sad to see someone with his skills go. But it's a relief to get rid of someone with his baggage.

Let's not forget that he "injured" himself for the last 6 weeks of 2006 when the team was still in it. All it would have taken was one slide into second base and we could very well have lost Manny for the rest of this season to with an "injury".
 
Where would we have been then?

nonsense.

Manny was a major reason this team won TWO World Series......now we will be lucky if we even make the playoffs...

[winsomme]

I don't think they had much of a choice, manny quit. At least they got something for him. How can you complain when you make 20 million a year on a winning team and the fans love you? What a jerk.

very sad. cant believe they traded him. our whole season is waisted now.
other teams are trying to get better and we get rid of our best player, instead of getting a good shortstop.

will miss manny,

Yeah, it's sad to see someone with his skills go. But it's a relief to get rid of someone with his baggage.

Let's not forget that he "injured" himself for the last 6 weeks of 2006 when the team was still in it. All it would have taken was one slide into second base and we could very well have lost Manny for the rest of this season to with an "injury".
 
Where would we have been then?

I'm sick of people saying Manny quit in 2006 when MANAGEMENT gave up on the team first by trading the #2 starter (David Wells) at the deadline.  I don't understand how people either miss or totally ignore that.  They were not still in it.... statistically, yes, but realistically, no.  At least management didn't think so.  Remember the team was decimated with injuries.  That, coupled with management trading their 2nd best pitcher made it impossible for the Sox to make the playoffs.

exactly. if anybody quit on that season it was the front office......TP.

[Nerf DPOY]

As someone who is familiar with both players, the dropoff from Manny to Bay is not minimal. Bay is a good guy and a decent hitter but he is no Manny by any stretch. He has no where near the bat control for a high OBP like Manny typically has and his power is OK but not great. Think Drew in his off year. By the way, Manny's arm is stronger but Bay is a better fielder.

Bay is outslugging Drew's '07 by nearly 100 points. That's a pretty sizable gap. Manny's OBP this year is .398 to Bay's .375. Manny's OPS is also 30 points higher than Bay's. Is that minimal? Maybe not. I guess it depends on your definition.

Anyways, I still think Bay or Ramirez, this team stays near the top of the A.L offensively.

[Finkelskyhook]

Agreed, Bankshot.  But Manny is getting paid a lot of money to perform on the field. Even if management makes a move with the future in mind, it doesn't mean Manny shouldn't earn his paycheck.  He's capable of carrying a team with or without David Wells.  He just quit.

Seriously, this crap has gone on way too long.  The episode where he never took the bat off his shoulders as a pinch hitter.  At that point, the Sox should have done what the Packers are doing with their selfish drama queen.  Enough is enough.

[hpantazo]

I don't think they had much of a choice, manny quit. At least they got something for him. How can you complain when you make 20 million a year on a winning team and the fans love you? What a jerk.

very sad. cant believe they traded him. our whole season is waisted now.
other teams are trying to get better and we get rid of our best player, instead of getting a good shortstop.

will miss manny,

Yeah, it's sad to see someone with his skills go. But it's a relief to get rid of someone with his baggage.

Let's not forget that he "injured" himself for the last 6 weeks of 2006 when the team was still in it. All it would have taken was one slide into second base and we could very well have lost Manny for the rest of this season to with an "injury".
 
Where would we have been then?

I'm sick of people saying Manny quit in 2006 when MANAGEMENT gave up on the team first by trading the #2 starter (David Wells) at the deadline.  I don't understand how people either miss or totally ignore that.  They were not still in it.... statistically, yes, but realistically, no.  At least management didn't think so.  Remember the team was decimated with injuries.  That, coupled with management trading their 2nd best pitcher made it impossible for the Sox to make the playoffs.

that's no reason for the players to quit, especially when they make the $$ manny was making. I appreciate all he did for the two championships, but when an employee acts the way he did in any sport or any vocation, you must get rid of him for the good of the organization.

[winsomme]

Agreed, Bankshot.  But Manny is getting paid a lot of money to perform on the field. Even if management makes a move with the future in mind, it doesn't mean Manny shouldn't earn his paycheck.  He's capable of carrying a team with or without David Wells.  He just quit.

Seriously, this crap has gone on way too long.  The episode where he never took the bat off his shoulders as a pinch hitter.  At that point, the Sox should have done what the Packers are doing with their selfish drama queen.  Enough is enough.

yeah, way too long......much longer than i don't know almost NINE decades without a Title....

if Manny had just run out EVERY ground ball maybe we would have won FOUR WS....

[winsomme]

I don't think they had much of a choice, manny quit. At least they got something for him. How can you complain when you make 20 million a year on a winning team and the fans love you? What a jerk.

very sad. cant believe they traded him. our whole season is waisted now.
other teams are trying to get better and we get rid of our best player, instead of getting a good shortstop.

will miss manny,

Yeah, it's sad to see someone with his skills go. But it's a relief to get rid of someone with his baggage.

Let's not forget that he "injured" himself for the last 6 weeks of 2006 when the team was still in it. All it would have taken was one slide into second base and we could very well have lost Manny for the rest of this season to with an "injury".
 
Where would we have been then?

I'm sick of people saying Manny quit in 2006 when MANAGEMENT gave up on the team first by trading the #2 starter (David Wells) at the deadline.  I don't understand how people either miss or totally ignore that.  They were not still in it.... statistically, yes, but realistically, no.  At least management didn't think so.  Remember the team was decimated with injuries.  That, coupled with management trading their 2nd best pitcher made it impossible for the Sox to make the playoffs.

that's no reason for the players to quit, especially when they make the $$ manny was making. I appreciate all he did for the two championships, but when an employee acts the way he did in any sport or any vocation, you must get rid of him for the good of the organization.

you don't think winning TWO World Series for a franchise that was working on a 90 year drought was for the good of the organization?

i want to see some predictions from the people who think this was a great trade.

how many are willing to say we are going to make the playoffs?

[hpantazo]

Agreed, Bankshot.  But Manny is getting paid a lot of money to perform on the field. Even if management makes a move with the future in mind, it doesn't mean Manny shouldn't earn his paycheck.  He's capable of carrying a team with or without David Wells.  He just quit.

Seriously, this crap has gone on way too long.  The episode where he never took the bat off his shoulders as a pinch hitter.  At that point, the Sox should have done what the Packers are doing with their selfish drama queen.  Enough is enough.

yeah, way too long......much longer than i don't know almost NINE decades without a Title....

if Manny had just run out EVERY ground ball maybe we would have won FOUR WS....

yes manny contributed, but he's not the only one responsible for the two titles, there are PLENTY of other guys who contributed a lot too. Don't exagerate what he did for the team, you could make the same case for guys like ortiz, schilling, lowell, etc.

[klg05]

At first there was no report about who's paying Manny but I guess Gammons is reporting the Sox are paying his whole nut.

2 guys, Manny, and $7 million??

Steep price for addition by subtraction. Steep indeed. Bay better not have a slump or this town will fry him.

I hope the fans in this town give this kid a chance.  He has a lot to live up to by no choice of his own.  It isn't like he took a huge contract to come here.  He was traded (although I can't imagine he wouldn't be thrilled to get out of Pittsburgh and come to the Red Sox). I remember when Nomar was traded in 2004 and he and Dough Mientkiewicz just switched dugouts because the Red Sox were playing in Minneapolis.  Doug Mientkiewicz said something like "Holy xxxx, you mean they traded Nomar for me?!" I don't think he realized at first that the Red Sox got Cabrera too.