The Red Sox Trade Manny Ramirez

"What would Manny Ramirez do
if he were here right now?
He'd take a swing and follow through
That's what Manny Ramirez would do

When Manny was in the Series
Playing for it all
He hit homeruns and the MVP
He really had a ball

When Manny was hitting fourth
Behind Papi Ortiz
He used his magical flaming bat
And the game was seized

So what would Manny Ramirez do
if he were here today
I'm sure he'd hit a ball or two
That's what Manny Ramirez would do"

Hard to say if this is sad or not, but Manny is not here right now. His magical flaming bat has left the building.

So this is how it ends for Manny Ramirez in a Red Sox uniform? It had to happen. Too many conflicting agendas, and too much BS - and it doesn't much matter if it was his or managements BS. 2004 saw a disgruntled Red Sox icon shown the door and the team went on to win the World Series. I think the Sox may have just sealed their fate for this season with the deal, but who knows. Perhaps they're off to achieve great things.

This makes sense from Manny's perspective only in that he's guessing that the Sox would have picked up their option for next year for $20 Million, which they most assuredly would have. He'll be 36 next year and he wants a longer term contract. Should the Sox have picked up both option years, he'd be 37-38 at the end of them and no where near the player who could garner another couple of years at $20 Million per. Nope. He had to convince the Sox not to pick up their options. Mind you, he changed agents after making the deal to come to Boston, so Scott Boras gets nothing if Manny doesn't get a new deal. He'll be playing somewhere other than Los Angeles next year for more money and a longer term contract. Nice, eh?

Back in 2001, those two years at $20 Million each seemed an exorbitant price per year for a player and almost guaranteed that those years wouldn't be picked up. As late as 2004, Manny was put on irrevocable waivers - the Sox were giving him away and no one wanted his price tag. Now, $20 Million for an aging slugger seems like a bargain. Just not for 4 years.

What I would love more than anything would be for the Dodgers to make picking up next year their first move. Ah, but alas young grasshopper. My bet is that part of Manny's agreeing to the deal - as a 10/5 guy he had the right to veto a trade - was getting something stipulated that the Trolley Dodgers wouldn't pick up the option. He was stuck in Boston, he wouldn't be stuck somewhere else.

Now, a guy that has already made something north of $160 Million is looking for another $80 or so and is looking to turn his back on $40? If I'm right, I'm far more cranky than I was when I got up today. All this crap about looking for happiness and it not being about the money - "No estoy hablando de dinero, la paz mental no tiene precio y ya no tengo paz aquí" - mierda. I commented earlier about his assertion "Los Medias Rojas No Me Merecen" and I am more convinced than ever that he was correct. The fans don't deserve him either.

And do you think the Sox wanted to rid themselves of him? A few years - and a couple of World Series Championships ago - they couldn't give him away. This year, they paid to have someone take him away. Ownership wanted him gone as much as he wanted to be gone. They get Jason Bay - to my mind, just keeping him away from the rather surprising Tampa Bay Devil Hens - but give up Brandon Moss, a good fielder, and Craig Hansen, a serviceable reliever as well as a boat load of cash. Makes you wonder why they couldn't have parted with Manny for some decent bull pen help and kept Moss using him as a fourth outfielder around Ellsbury, Crisp and Drew.

Who would have thought that at the start of spring training that Coco Crisp would still be in Boston today and that Manny would be heading off to join the Dodgers? So long Manny. Don't let the door hit you in the butt on the way out. I usually don't get this irritated with guys shooting their way out of town - it's a business, a job to them. They have to do what they have to do. I guess it's the way it went down. Guys like Jay Payton can be mierda cabezas all they want behind the scenes because they're nobodies. Manny has to completely go postal because he needs to put fan pressure on the team. I get that too. I guess I just would have liked to see a little more dignity in it.

So, Manny, enjoy Southern California. I'm glad I had the opportunity to cheer for you. I wish you well.