Should Jays chase Manny?

[Peteros]

http://www.sportsnet.ca?bcpid=53059221001&bctid=599599515001

Interesting.. I wouldn't mind seeing him in a Blue Jays uniform next year. What about you guys?

[Hoopstarr]

Too late now unless he comes really cheap and delivers like Frank Thomas in 2006. The year to go after him was 2009 before he re-signed with LAD. Manny was a Jays fan growing up and even made some unofficial comment when he was in Boston like "tell JP to sign me". Doc had two years left at that point and I wanted to see Rogers really go for it with one last push by signing Manny, Furcal (Scutaro turned out just fine though) and a FA pitcher or two.

[Michael Bradley]

I'd be for it. Manny is currently hitting .311/.405/.510 (150 OPS+). On a one year contract, as long as it doesn't effect any of the team's draft/international budget, I'd definitely love to have him in the DH spot. The Jays don't have any 1B/DH prospects coming up, and Manny is about the best stop-gap the Jays would be able to find.

It depends on how much Manny wants and how much the Jays MLB budget will be, but Manny in general would be a great fit to the lineup. Age and attitude aside, he is still a .900 OPS player.

[hyper316]

yea sure, then we would have a proper DH

[trellaine201]

Fred Lewis won't do as DH? How the hell is Lewis the DH tonight? Yikes

[Randle McMurphy]

Yes, he needs to be a Jay next year.

Though I'd take Jim Thome as well.

[darth_federer]

Jeff Blair was talking about this on Prime Time Sports. Apparently Manny always wanted to end his career in Toronto because he has hit a lot of homers in the Rogers center (27 homers in 97 games) and he wanted to play in a place where he could stat pad for the last couple years of his career.

Orlando Cabrera who is a good friend of his told Blair this and Blair told Riccardi about it, but the Jays could never come up with the money.

Its worth a shot if hes going to DH. Dont know if the Jays would pay 10 million though (I would imagine that it would take something like that to get him in Toronto.)

[Schad]

Its worth a shot if hes going to DH. Dont know if the Jays would pay 10 million though (I would imagine that it would take something like that to get him in Toronto.)

Probably $13-15m...even at 39 he won't want to take a massive pay cut.

[Geddy]

Also, you would get the opportunity to hear the phrase, "I'm just Manny being Manny mang" often in the media scrums.

[OldNo7]

Did this become the Raps board over night?

[Randle McMurphy]

Did this become the Raps board over night?

What do you mean?

If the Jays are in the market for a DH this winter (and right now, it looks like they will be), there's nobody better than Manny Ramirez for that role. And there's also no reason to think he wouldn't come here if the Jays made a fair market offer (which Rogers is certainly capable of). It's not an entirely unrealistic dream.

[Michael Bradley]

Yeah I don't see the Raptors board connection here either.

Ramirez, when healthy, is still a middle of the order hitter who does something the Jays lack (get on base). He is also a completely realistic target given the team's current needs and Manny's apparent fondness with playing in Toronto. Seems like a pretty good match to me, assuming the dollars and years make sense for both sides.

The Jays are too good at this point to be a "decade of top 5 picks" type team like the Rays were, so just go out and get the best talent available within budget. As long as it does not effect the team's ability to sign picks and/or international talent, then it is a great scenario.

As far as "Manny being Manny", that didn't stop his teams from reaching the post-season in 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, and 2009. He's a headache, but as long as he is posting 150 OPS+ type numbers, then no one will care.

The biggest concerns should be 1) how much money and how many years does he want, and 2) whether he can stay healthy at age 39. But adding Manny in general? Hell yes, go for it.

[tecumseh18]

There's also the marketing angle to consider. The Jays are the feel good story of the summer, for sure, but it will take a little extra marketing push to get people into the stands for next year. Manny F'n Ramirez - you just do that. Manny and Bautista together? It will be like Manny and Ortiz a few years ago - simply terrifying to pitchers. The Rogers Centre will be rocking like it's 1991.

But remember, it's going to take another season before the young pitchers reach full strength.

[11x]

Apparently George Bell was mannys favourite growing up.

George Bell, that MVP year he had (1987) we’d always go to the Yankee games and cheer for Bell, he was the best Latin player at the time,” Ramirez said yesterday. In those days, a Bell homer would prompt fans to carry Dominican Republic flags around the stadium. Was Ramirez in any of the ensuing fights?

“I’m a lover, not a fighter,” Ramirez said.

http://mopupduty.com/index.php/george-b ... y-ramirez/

[hyper316]

i think at this point, manny is going where the money is. if we can get a frank thomas-like deal for manny, i'll be up for it. i think it'll help draw more fans to the games

[LBJSeizedMyID]

If it's a 1 year contract I'm all for it. It allows the Jays to "somewhat" go for it by adding another big name piece, and Manny loves hitting in Toronto. I'm sure this would also scare the bejeezus out of the Yankees and BoSox.

It would also fill up seats most importantly.

[RaptorsBoy]

It depends cuz if we decide to spend our money on an outfielder like Crawford or Werth than we shouldn't waste anymore money on manny

[WpgPage]

I think Manny would be a great fit, 5-8 mil base salary plus 2-3 million in contract incentives based on PA. A team option for the next year would be nice as well.

SS - Escobar
3B - ???
RF- Bau
CF- Wells
DH- Manny
1B - Lind
LF - Snider
2B - Hill
C - JPA/ Molina

or you could have bau play 3B and get a RF to bat second, thats a line up that I would definitely not mind running out there on a daily basis.

[Nolan]

I don`t see the point of bringing him, its not like we're trying to contend right now and he wouldn't push us over the top. Plus where would he play? Lind is our DH and we already have a crowded OF with Wells, Lewis, Snider and Bautista.

I want to get Snider more at bats next year not take them away from him by signing another OF like Manny.

[WpgPage]

Manny can not play OF anymore, he would be signed as a pure DH