A first-place team and defending champion is considering trading the major league RBI leader. That should say quite a lot about Manny Ramirez.
No wide-eyed Met fan should have any illusions about Ramirez, and none should think if he plays with Pedro Martinez again or for the communicative Willie Randolph that anything will change. He will still be a horrible defensive player, just without the Green Monster to cover up for his lack of range and passion. He will still be the most indifferent of baserunners.
He will pout. He will not be useful in off-the-field marketing of the team at all. And he will be extraordinarily expensive.
But you know what he also will continue to be – the greatest righty hitter of this era (though Albert Pujols is right on his heels). And because of that the Mets have to extend to places financially and spiritually, they probably do not want to go if a deal is indeed possible. And I have my doubts.
The Red Sox certainly have put Ramirez’ name out there, but dealing him would be an emotional decision for an organization that prides itself on levelheaded and – often times – cold-hearted evaluations.
The Red Sox have designs on winning a championship again this year. As much as they would love to rid themselves of an air-headed malcontent and the $64 million owed from today through 2008, they know how difficult it would be to be a better team for the rest of 2005 without Ramirez as with him.
As unhappy as he has been, Ramirez has 92 RBIs, which means everybody is chasing him. Look at it this way, the Yankees would celebrate the dissolution of the David Ortiz-Ramirez combo, no matter whom Boston received back for Ramirez.
Then again, this is the same organization that dealt Nomar Garciaparra without getting a star in return and lived to celebrate with the end of The Curse. That emboldens the Red Sox’ front office to do what it thinks is right, and Boston management just might think improving the defense, seriousness and financial structure of the team while addressing several areas of need on the 2005 roster is the best way to go. If that is the case, the Mets really should go get Ramirez.
He should have three more highly productive years left. His presence in the lineup would probably alleviate pressure on Carlos Beltran and make the Met center fielder more productive. And Ramirez is the kind of hitter who could put the Mets on his back for the rest of the season and make them a more viable playoff contender.
Ramirez is hard to love any place, except in the batter’s box. In the batter’s box, there have been few players more special than Ramirez. The Mets need that something special.