Red Sox might be wise to wash hands of Manny

[Wassit3]

OK, Manny Ramirez apologized. That still doesn't excuse him for pushing Red Sox traveling secretary Jack McCormick to the ground after a dispute over tickets Saturday night in Houston. Manny wanted 16 tickets on short notice, and according to the Providence Journal, shouted, "Just do your job!" when McCormick expressed concern that he could not meet the request.


Manny's antics and leveling play may make him expendable in Boston. (Bob Levey / Associated Press)
Did the Red Sox discipline Manny? They're saying only that they handled the matter internally. Should they have disciplined him? It goes without saying. But the Sox can't touch Manny, lest he go into one of his periodic funks. So, they tolerate his obvious sense of entitlement and disrespect for a longtime team employee, viewing the incident as an aberration.

It was, to a degree; Manny mostly acts like a big kid who wouldn't hurt anyone. Still, McCormick is 64, and when you come right down to it, there is little difference between Ramirez's behavior and Shawn Chacon's — except that Chacon is a journeyman while Ramirez is a future Hall of Famer.

To this point, I've thought it was a lock that the Red Sox would exercise Ramirez's $20 million option for next season, but now I'm not so sure. Manny's production no longer is otherworldly. The free-agent market would offer no clear-cut solution, but at worst the Sox could go with Jacoby Ellsbury, Coco Crisp and J.D. Drew in the outfield and David Ortiz at DH. Or, they could try to trade for a replacement such as the Rockies' Matt Holliday.

The Sox have proven they can function without Ortiz, at least short-term. As long as they still had Ortiz, they could survive without Manny, too.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/8301638

[cartman00000001]

they would be crazy to get rid of him.

[gRYFYN1]

The thought the Manny is "expendable" is laughable. Maybe he's not worth 20mil per season yes Only rank 12th in the AL in OPS, and his 16 HR and 52 RBI are only 6th.

Now as for picking up his option, I never thought that was a good idea, 20 mil is better spent elsewhere.

[Arctic Blast]

The only way Boston CAN let go of Manny is if they replkace his bat in their lineup. Who's gonna do that?

[dickay]

The thought the Manny is "expendable" is laughable. Maybe he's not worth 20mil per season yes Only rank 12th in the AL in OPS, and his 16 HR and 52 RBI are only 6th.

Now as for picking up his option, I never thought that was a good idea, 20 mil is better spent elsewhere.

Huh??? Are you actually saying its not a good idea to pick up his option?? Ludicrous.

Much wiser to pick up his option than resign him because he'll demand at least a 3 year deal, more likely 4 at close to that 20 mil figure. A few more mil now protects you as he ages and avoids the long term deal. They have 2 years of options.

[YEAH DAAAAWG]

If this was similar to the Chacon incident, absolutely get him out, but that was insubordination and this just sounds like a misunderstanding of sorts.

[gRYFYN1]

Huh??? Are you actually saying its not a good idea to pick up his option?? Ludicrous.

Much wiser to pick up his option than resign him because he'll demand at least a 3 year deal, more likely 4 at close to that 20 mil figure. A few more mil now protects you as he ages and avoids the long term deal. They have 2 years of options.

Yeah im saying that 20 mill is too much, really is Howard or Holiday or Texeria going to get any more than that? the Only reason to pick up his 20 mil option is if they pal on keeping him 1` more year. if they want him longer, delcine it resign
him for 3 yr 40 mil ish.

[gRYFYN1]

If this was similar to the Chacon incident, absolutely get him out, but that was insubordination and this just sounds like a misunderstanding of sorts.

well excpet manny's altercation was with a co-worker and Chacon's was with his boss's boss.

[YEAH DAAAAWG]

Huh??? Are you actually saying its not a good idea to pick up his option?? Ludicrous.

Much wiser to pick up his option than resign him because he'll demand at least a 3 year deal, more likely 4 at close to that 20 mil figure. A few more mil now protects you as he ages and avoids the long term deal. They have 2 years of options.

Not really, picking up the option would be a pretty poor idea IMO. I don't have a problem with signing him to a 3 year deal at around 10-15 mil per season, if Manny thinks hes getting 20 mil a season on the open market hes nuts. And they don't have two years of options, they have one option for two seasons.

[cartman00000001]

remember guys, there are 2 20 million dollar options.

[HoustonGM]

If this was similar to the Chacon incident, absolutely get him out, but that was insubordination and this just sounds like a misunderstanding of sorts.

well excpet manny's altercation was with a co-worker and Chacon's was with his boss's boss.

And Manny is a star-caliber bat while Chacon is a below average starter.

[YEAH DAAAAWG]

remember guys, there are 2 20 million dollar options.

I'm pretty sure its one two-year option, not two one-year options, although I could be wrong.

[HoustonGM]

I'm pretty sure its one two-year option, not two one-year options, although I could be wrong.

It's two one-year options.

[cartman00000001]

It's two one-year options.

ding ding!!

2 1 year options at 20 per.

[KowboyKoop]

Yeah..the BoSox are really struggling financially....their lack of money resources causes them to not be able to afford big contracts. Really unfair that they can't keep players like ManRam and his big money contract and build a quality team.