MLB BUZZ's posts tagged Manny Ramirez

See all posts tagged with Manny Ramirez »

• What Manny can and can't do

  February 12, 2012 by KenRosenthal

  For those wondering, Manny Ramirez does not have to be completely idle during his 50-game suspension for violating baseball’s drug policy.

  Ramirez, who turns 40 on May 30, is eligible to play in spring-training games, according to major-league sources.

  Once the season starts, he can work out with either major- or minor-league clubs, provided he leaves by the time the gates open. He also can appear in games during extended spring training, which generally is for players who are not ready to play for a full-season club, either due to injury or inexperience.

  Finally, as his suspension draws to a close, Ramirez can play in the minors on a rehabilitation assignment. That assignment, however, would consist of only 10 games, not the normal 20.

  The Oakland Athletics remain the front-runners to sign Ramirez, but first want to add a reliever, according to major-league sources; they have been in talks with the Texas Rangers about right-hander Koji Uehara.

  The Baltimore Orioles have publicly backed off Ramirez. The Toronto Blue Jays showed interest at one point, but the talks failed to progress, sources said.

  It is unclear whether other clubs are in the mix.

  — Ken Rosenthal

  0 Comments
• The Orioles' newest helper: an old friend

  February 28, 2011 by KenRosenthal

  The other day at Washington Nationals camp, infielder Jerry Hairston volunteered that Baltimore Orioles third baseman Mark Reynolds was going to have a big year.

  I couldn’t figure out the connection. Hairston and Reynolds have never been teammates. But Hairston told me they share the same offseason hitting coach: Brady Anderson.

  Yes, that Brady Anderson, the former Orioles slugger who hit 50 home runs in 1996 but not more than 24 in any other season.

  Anderson, 47, is now a spring-training hitting instructor with the Orioles and also works privately with players in Los Angeles during the winter.

  

  OPENING DAY COUNTDOWN

  Get the scoop on your favorite teams
  and their rivals as the season approaches.

  Reynolds became a pupil of Anderson’s even before the Arizona Diamondbacks traded him to the Orioles on Dec. 6. They not only worked on Reynolds’ swing, but Anderson also prescribed a conditioning program for Reynolds that included sprints and weight work.

  Reynolds batted .198 in 2010 with a .320 on-base percentage and .433 slugging average, career lows in each category. He had 32 home runs and 211 strikeouts in 499 at-bats.

  “Obviously, he had an off year last year,” Anderson said. “But even when he hit 44 homers (in 2009) . . . because of his strikeouts, he gets negative attention that is unjust in my opinion.

  “I’ve talked to some managers he played for. This guy is a really good fielder. He is a really low-key but hard-nosed player who is willing to work and a really good teammate.”

  So, might Reynolds indeed be a different guy this season?

  “Absolutely,” Anderson said. “I think he’s comfortable with his swing. Last year, he just felt he was out of sync. I know what it’s like to feel out of sync. Certain hitters, like Manny (Ramirez) and Robinson Cano, never really get out of sync. They’ve had the same swing since they were teenagers. They mastered their skills earlier.

  “It’s such a hard skill. A hitter knows his swing is off when he steps into the batter’s box. And when you know your swing is off, it’s hard to focus on the most important thing — getting a pitch to drive, seeing the ball.”

  Jim Presley, the Orioles’ new hitting coach, will be the instructor who works most closely with Reynolds this season. But if Reynolds bounces back, give Anderson an assist, too.

  — Ken Rosenthal

  0 Comments
• Big Papi: Next winter's Vlad?

  February 02, 2011 by KenRosenthal

  Vladimir Guerrero’s struggles on the free-agent market raise the question:

  What happens next offseason to David Ortiz?

  Both Guerrero and Ortiz are designated hitters. Both turn 36 this year. Both share the same agents, Fern Cuza and Diego Benz.

  Could Ortiz misread the market as badly as Guerrero seemingly has?

  Well, he misread Guerrero’s market, that’s for sure.

  “I guarantee he will go back and play for Texas and get good money,” Ortiz told ESPNBoston.com in November. “You can put that down right now.

  “I’m going to tell you one thing — he’ll get more than one year, too. You wait and see.”

  Guerrero, barring a major surprise, is not going to land a multi-year deal. He also figures to take a significant pay cut from his $6.5 million salary despite coming off a 29-homer, 115-RBI season for the American League champion Rangers.

  The Rangers offered Guerrero a one-year, $8.5 million contract early in the offseason, according to a major-league source. Guerrero, however, rejected the deal.

  The Orioles, the team with seemingly the most current interest in signing Guerrero, are offering him between $3 million and $5 million, sources say.

  Ortiz, too, could have become a free agent this offseason, but the Red Sox exercised his $12.5 million club option. He is coming off an even better season than Guerrero — Ortiz had an .899 OPS, Guerrero an .841. But few DHs in their mid- to late 30s command big money on the open market these days.

  Guerrero, if he had accepted the Rangers’ offer, would have been an exception. Hideki Matsui, 36, signed with the A’s for $4.25 million. Jim Thome, 40, went to the Twins for $3 million. Manny Ramirez, 38, joined the Rays for $2 million.

  Each of those players received only a one-year contract. Guerrero, Ortiz and Bobby Abreu, 36, could join them as free agents next offseason, creating an even more crowded market.

  — Ken Rosenthal

   

  0 Comments
• Johnny, Manny . . . and Vlad?

  February 01, 2011 by KenRosenthal

  Johnny Damon has made seven career appearances at first base, none since 2008, none as a starter. The Rays have not indicated he will play any position but left field. But let’s play the what-if game.

  What if the Rays grew comfortable with Damon at first, creating room for one more offensive piece? And what if that offensive piece was free-agent designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero?

  

  BIG EARNERS

  See which MLB stars earn the
  highest annual salaries.

  The Rays’ current first-base options are Dan Johnson and Casey Kotchman. But imagine a lineup that had Damon at first, Manny Ramirez in left field and Guerrero at DH.

  Interesting, to say the least.

  The Rays, mind you, have given no indication that they are considering such a plan. Guerrero seems more likely to sign with the Orioles, or maybe the Angels or Blue Jays. But stranger things have happened.

  The Tampa Bay front office is progressive, routinely considering every available big name. Few expected the team to sign Damon and Ramirez. But the Rays, playing in the AL East, understand the need to take occasional risks.

  Using both Damon and Ramirez in the field would be a considerable risk, a 180-degree departure from the team’s previous defense-first philosophy.

  Kotchman, though, could replace Damon in the late innings. Sam Fuld, another outstanding defender, could substitute for Ramirez. If there is any manager who could make such an arrangement work, it’s the ever-creative Joe Maddon.

  The Rays have other needs — another reliever, a backup infielder. But Guerrero would make a bigger impact than any other player they could acquire.

  If the Rays could land Guerrero for, say, $5 million, they would have three potential Hall of Famers — Damon, Ramirez and Guerrero — for the shockingly low price of $12.25 million combined.

  Granted, Ramirez might throw a fit if the Rays paid Guerrero more than twice his new $2 million salary. But they already cut such a deal with Damon, didn’t they?

  The Orioles appear a cleaner fit for Guerrero — they play on natural grass, not artificial turf, and would require less defensive shuffling to accommodate him. The Rays, though, offer a greater chance to win.

  Damon at first? Ramirez in left? Maybe those are just two square pegs in round holes. But if the goal is to outscore the opponent, the Rays might want to explore the idea. If they haven’t already.

  — Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi

  5 Comments
• Damon and Manny or Vlad for Rays?

  January 21, 2011 by KenRosenthal

  If the Tampa Bay Rays sign free agent Johnny Damon, the natural assumption is that they would be out on Manny Ramirez or Vladimir Guerrero.
  
  Not necessarily.
  
  For the right price, the Rays could add Damon plus Ramirez or Guerrero, major-league sources say — and Ramirez would seem to be more likely, given that he probably will cost less.
  
  Under such a scenario, Damon would get most of his at-bats in left field. Ramirez or Guerrero would be the primary DH. And the boost to the Rays’ offense could be significant.
  
  The additions of two veteran hitters would protect the Rays against injury and inconsistency by some of their less accomplished players — outfielder Matt Joyce, shortstop Reid Brignac, infielder Sean Rodriguez and first baseman Dan Johnson.
  
  Imagine: Damon and Ramirez, two former Red Sox, doing battle against Boston in the AL East.
  
  It’s not out of the question.
  
  — Ken Rosenthal
  
  

  0 Comments