Manny Ramirez has agreed to be traded to the Marlins, SI.com has learned, but a deal has not been reached.
The Marlins and Pirates are both said to be haggling with the Red Sox over a prospect or two in a potential three-team blockbuster that would send the embattled superstar to Florida. While there's some last-minute horse trading going on in what would rank as the surprise trade of the century, people involved in the talks are still expressing optimism that the deal will eventually get done and that the $20 million player will go to the $22 million team. (To read all of the latest trade updates, check out Jon Heyman's trade deadline blog here.)
The Red Sox's three-team talks appear to be centered on the Marlins and Pirates alone now, with Ramirez heading to the Marlins, Jason Bay coming to Boston to replace him and the rebuilding Pirates getting younger players, perhaps including Jeremy Hermida from the Marlins. People involved in the discussions say several combinations of players were still being discussed, but the focus appears to be narrowed now to include just those two teams with Boston. No deal has been agreed to yet, and it's still possible Ramirez could remain with the Red Sox, though it's now believed more likely than not that a deal will be consummated close to the 4 p.m. ET trade deadline today.
In one oft-discussed arrangement on the table, the Marlins would surrender Hermida, power-hitting outfield prospect Mike Stanton and hard-throwing young pitcher Ryan Tucker. However, the Marlins were said to be trying to keep the highly regarded Stanton out of the trade and the prospects could change. Josh Willingham was discussed as a replacement for Hermida at one time, but Willingham was determined to have a medical issue and it appears Hermida would be the main player leaving Florida.
Some player combinations being discussed are believed to include Pirates reliever John Grabow or perhaps even shortstop Jack Wilson leaving Pittsburgh. But the Pirates were said late Wednesday night to still be trying to enhance their end of things. With the deadline looming, though, the option of bringing in a different third team to replace Pittsburgh appeared to be dwindling.
Though all the players haven't been agreed to, the Red Sox and Marlins felt good enough about their chances for a trade to have relayed their dealings late Wednesday to the commissioner's office, which needs to be aware if more than $1 million will change hands. Boston is expected to offset the bulk of the $7 million remaining on Ramirez's $20 million salary for 2008 by sending cash to Florida.
Ramirez has veto power over trades as a 10-and-5 player, but provided the $20 million team options for 2009 and '10 in his contract are removed, that isn't expected to be a problem. Ramirez has asked out of Boston, and in fact campaigned to be out of Boston, and the South Florida resident isn't expected to reject his new lot, which would include a few-month stay with the Marlins before hitting the free-agent market. Free agency has been his endgame all along.
The Marlins' surprise entry into the Ramirez Sweepstakes was first reported Tuesday on SI.com. Baseball Prospectus first reported the possibility of Hermida going for Ramirez.
The Phillies and Dodgers were also in the mix earlier, but one person familiar with the talks said, "The Marlins have the players. They can make it happen.'' The Phillies showed interest but may have reservations about how Ramirez would fit into an outfield without an obvious right fielder, and their offers have been said to be disappointing. The Dodgers apparently were willing to send Matt Kemp to Boston, but they also appear to be on the sidelines now.
The Marlins have shocked baseball by remaining in the NL East race, trailing first-place Philadelphia by only 1½ games, and they are clearly an organization capable of surprises. Their biggest trade ever was another one with Boston. In that deal, Florida sent superstar pitcher Josh Beckett and third baseman Mike Lowell to Boston for shortstop Hanley Ramirez and others.
Boston has periodically shopped Ramirez over the past four years, ever since he expressed displeasure with his fishbowl existence in baseball-crazed Boston. Boston wound up keeping Ramirez, but this time competing executives see a new motivation to move on. "Boston is motivated,'' one competing executive said. Boston's offers to cash-strapped teams to pick up the remaining $7 million on Ramirez's 2008 salary is evidence of how interested it is to grant Ramirez's wish to go.
While some have suggested the Red Sox will ultimately keep Ramirez because there's no way to replace his production, it's possible Boston may be at its breaking point. Ramirez just might have enhanced his chances for a deal by failing to hustle out a ground ball Tuesday night at Fenway Park, inciting boos from the crowd.
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