What About Manny? Market Failing to Develop for Slugger Ramirez

With Mark Teixeira now being fitted for pinstripes, the Hot Stove has turned its attention to the free agent who will undoubtedly have the greatest impact on his team next season. Needles to say, I am talking about Manny Ramirez.

Now whether or not that effect is positive or negative will really be up to Manny. And it is more than likely to be a little of both.

Ramirez, who last season seemed to single-handedly carry the Dodgers from mediocrity to the NLCS, has found out this winter that the reputation that precedes him is not so much that of a sure-fire Hall of Famer with 12 seasons of at least 30 homers.

Instead, for most owners and GMs, the idea of “Manny being Manny” on their ball club has scared them into believing that they would be better off without the antics, distractions, and shenanigans that are as assured as his 100-plus RBI.

This, of course, is pure absurdity on the part of executives around baseball, who seem to have been too easily discouraged by the media frenzy that is sure to accompany any great athlete as colorful and candid as Ramirez.

As I assume most would recall, the Red Sox won two World Series due in large part to Manny’s destructive presence in the lineup, rather than in the locker room.

In 16 seasons, Ramirez’s teams have earned 10 playoff births, winning seven Division Series and four League Championships because of him, not in spite of.

And for all the talk of Manny disrupting the Red Sox clubhouse, Boston finished their season at the same exact point that his new (and less talented) team did.

In 53 games with the Dodgers, Ramirez proved he is still one of the most dangerous sluggers in the game and, quite possibly, the greatest right-handed hitter of his generation.

Manny remarkably finished fourth in the NL MVP voting after compiling a .396 average with 31 extra-base hits and a .743 slugging percentage; despite the fact that he played only one-third of the season in Los Angeles.

After a tremendous stretch like that, most, including Manny, believed that clubs would be busting down the door to have him launch bombs and reach 600 home runs in their uniform.

In October, Ramirez stated, "I want to see who is the highest bidder. Gas is up, and so am I." Well, unfortunately now the price of gas is down, and so is the price for Manny.

The Yankees, with their $420 million commitment to three players, would seemingly not have the desire. (But don't hold me to that.) The Red Sox have been there, done that.

And teams like the Nationals, Angels and Orioles, who were only willing to spend big bucks on a franchise-player like Teixeira, will more than likely pass on Ramirez, as well. So, besides the Dodgers, who else does that leave?

The New York Mets.

Yes, there may be some bias on my part for this, and I acknowledge it is a long shot. However, I also believe it is foolish to underestimate Omar Minaya's infatuation with the Washington Heights product.

The Mets certainly have the need in left field, they supposedly still have the resources (no thanks to Bernard Madoff).

And it would significantly help to steal back the headlines from the Yankees, who have dominated the tabloids to this point in the offseason.

Plus, it's Christmas and, after the last two seasons, don't all Mets fans deserve to be spoiled a little by Santa?

In a buyer's market, patience is the most valuable attribute an organization can have. If the Mets see fit to maintain their composure, they may just have this year's free agent prize fall right onto their lap as this Christmas' greatest gift.