Scott Boras told ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick that Johnny Damon, Andruw Jones and Manny Ramirez can boost fan interest, TV ratings and revenue for MLB teams. Not only that, the agent insists his clients can be key players on winning clubs.
"These guys are star players," Boras said. "They're championship-caliber players. Owners and general managers know they have extraordinary abilities, and they can be a force in the locker room and around young players."
Crasnick surveyed MLB executives and scouts about the three stars and heard the Angels and Rays mentioned as possibilities for Damon. The Dodgers, who have also been linked to the 37-year-old, are “unlikely” to sign him, according to a source familiar with the team’s thinking. The Yankees haven’t ruled out a reunion with Damon, but they’re only interested in him as a fourth outfielder, according to Crasnick.
Jones, another Yankees target, “still has value as an extra outfielder who can fill in at all three spots and mash left-handed pitching," an AL assistant GM said. The Braves briefly discussed a reunion with Jones and the Rockies are another possible fit.
Despite speculation that Ramirez could be a fit in Toronto, where former Red Sox coach John Farrell will take over as manager, it isn’t a likely match. In fact, Crasnick suggests Farrell’s familiarity with the slugger could make the Jays less likely to sign Manny. Tampa Bay could be a fit for Ramirez, who definitely wants to play in 2011, according to Boras.
“They’re championship-caliber players.”
Face it, Scott, you’re only saying that to make them feel good.
He’s only saying it to get them the best deal, so he can get the most money. I hate him
Yeah. Stupid agents trying to get their clients the best deals and in the process earn more money themselves. They should be ashamed.
He should be ashamed for all his lies….
He should be ashamed for all his lies….
ah, the best and worst of capitalism
This is the most reasonable post on the topic. You cant hate Boras for being good at his job, even though he’s responsible for soaring contracts and rubbing it in that much more to the common man that these players will make more money in a day than most blue or white collar people see in a year.
I agree with the tone of your post – although I take mild issue with the idea that Boras is responsible for rising salaries. The fact is there is a ton of money in MLB right now, and some teams are willing to spend some of that to improve their business. No guns are being pointed here – GMs pay it because they can afford it. Those that don’t are typically the Floridas of the world that are more interested in looting as much as possible out of the business. Don’t hate the playa, hate the game.
Don’t blame him….blame the dumbass GMs that are wowed by his manipulation of stats (see: Mike Rizzo – just the most recent example).
He’s good at his job, you can’t really blame him.
He’s good at his job, you can’t really blame him.
Sometimes, Boras can look like Matthew Lesko in a riddler suit jumping around late-night infomercials spewing his crap…
Sometimes, Boras can look like Matthew Lesko in a riddler suit jumping around late-night infomercials spewing his crap…
ya, face it damons trying to limp his way to 3000 hits, Ramirez is trying to limp his way to 3000 million dollers and Jones is limping his way to a 3000 calorie diet.
3000 calorie diet is nothing for an athlete. Michael Phelps eats 20000 calories a day. I am 15 and eat probably 3000 at least (and I’m not fat)
Star Players….in 2003
Andruw Jones: TV Ratings Boosta!
translation the offers on the table for these guys suck so I’m trying to hype them up
Manny has played himself out of being signed by anyone. He is clearly waaaayyy past his prime…and a head case to boot.
yah that .409 OBP last year is embarrassing. He shouldn’t even be allowed to watch baseball anymore let alone play it
You want that cancer on your team? I think everyone else will be more than happy to let you have him.
Cancers that OBP .409 are fine by me. Any player that OBP’s .409 is fine by me.
Rightttttt.. “cancer”… people just jump on media spread ideas about players and take them for actually proof…. Why is Manny a “cancer” exactly? I encourage you to list reasons.. As I see it, the only ones who should be somewhat bitter are Red Sox fans, everyone else is just a fan boy for jumping on the idea without forming your own opinion.
He’s a cancer when he plays the field.
No when he plays the field he’s a Gemini, he was born May 30
I’m a Sox fan and I sure as hell am not bitter. Manny was a monster with us. His on and off the field problems didn’t change how I felt about him. He raked year after year for us.
Getting suspended for 50 games for using a banned substance isn’t something that I would say a real “team leader” does. The people who should be bitter are the ones that believe that baseball should be played with some integrity.
Thats a different issue all together.. He served his 50 game ban and by the rules of baseball is allowed to return to any team he likes..
I just hate how Manny has some how been black balled as the ultimate non team player and cancer.. last time I checked, the Red Sox don’t win the world series with out him. . He’s not Milton Bradley or Terrel Owens… . and then the argument usually moves to PEDs, which atleast is justified, but I don’t hear people calling Andy Pettite a cancer.
last thing i read is that every team he has played for the players loved him…yes he comes off like a jack ass…but look at him he was a millionaire as a kid…and he comes off like he is having fun all the time. This while “cancer” thing comes from the fact that he does not bite his tongue. If he has a problem with someone he says it. If he is un happy he is very clear about it. Its almost refreshing to see a player say whats on his mind. and not be a jerk about it like TO…
I’d say some of the cancer thing also came from the way he played left field. A lot of the time he looked like he didn’t care what happened and only cared about hitting. Now that he’s only really a DH that problem’s gone.
“Return to any team he likes”…if that was the case, he would have a job by now. I don’t know what kind of money Manny is asking for, but he is not a 40hr guy anymore. How can this guy be a leader and carry a team when he gets suspended for 50 games for taking PED’s. Even Manny is scared of his production dropping. Why else would he use PED’s??? And don’t get me started on his horrific defense!!! In the end, I wouldn’t make him out to be as bad of a guy as Milton Bradley. If he isn’t greedy, he will find a job somewhere
I think the cancer thing has more to do with Manny faking injuries to take games off, not even attempting to swing at pitches because he felt somehow slighted by management and finally basically just quitting on a team that had paid him over a hundred million dollars over the years to play a game. Oh, I forgot the part where he started a fist fight in the dugout with Youkalis because Youk called him out on his lack of effort and the time Manny roughed up the elderly front office guy because the guy couldn’t get him the tickets he wanted.
Other than that and the time Manny decided that going to take a leak in the scoreboard was more important than being on the field, not having his head in the game to the point where he cut off the center fielder’s throw to the infield and other assorted adventures Manny was a model citizen.
Yup, no clubhouse cancer at all…
Thats a different issue all together.. He served his 50 game ban and by the rules of baseball is allowed to return to any team he likes..
I just hate how Manny has some how been black balled as the ultimate non team player and cancer.. last time I checked, the Red Sox don’t win the world series with out him. . He’s not Milton Bradley or Terrel Owens… . and then the argument usually moves to PEDs, which atleast is justified, but I don’t hear people calling Andy Pettite a cancer.
If youre caught you are not a team leader? But if you dont get caught youre good?
Getting suspended for 50 games for using a banned substance isn’t something that I would say a real “team leader” does. The people who should be bitter are the ones that believe that baseball should be played with some integrity.
2003 – Misses several games due to illness and is then spotted in a bar while supposedly too ill to play. Benched for one game.
2005 – Threatens to not show up to training camp unless he is traded.
2008 – Fights with Kevin Youkilis in dugout, pushes over team secretary
2009 – 50 game PED suspension
Add to that his notoriously lazy defense, I’m about 50/50 as to whether a team will sign him.
2003-DNP in a couple of games because he was suffering from pharyngitis which is an inflammation of the throat or pharynx. In most cases it is painful and the initial infection can extend for a lengthy time period. It is the most common cause of a sore throat. He missed a few games and one evening when ex-Indians teammate and then current Yankee Enrique Wilson was in town they were caught having a drink in a bar in Boston in which MANNY LIVED IN.
I could see if he had a bad knee and was caught doing the “Dougie” at a strip club, but a bar in the hotel you live in while you have a soar throat doesn’t sound like a big deal to me. A drink at the bar probably won’t get worse unless there’s a lot of smoke he exposes himself to.
2005- Key word is, OFFSEASON. A common ploy. Not like he sat out over a contract dispute in July.
2008- Who knows what Youks may have said to him. I’ve heard that Youks habit of throwing helmets and bats rubbed some ppl the wrong way. Neither you or I were there and the only ppl to really rely on were the media and it’s not like they don’t/won’t color a story according to how they feel about someone.
Not saying it was right to push the traveling secretary but then again we don’t know what might have been said to him either.
2009- The only legitimate gripe I’ve heard about the g
Meant to say that the bar was located in the hotel that Manny was living in full time. It’s not like he went outisde or traveled elsewhere to meet up with him.
If Manny were my teammate, I know at some point I would punch him out.
Regards,
Milton Bradley
I wonder how many players in MLB would love to hit .300/.410/.460 when they’re “past their prime.” Hell I wonder how many players in MLB would love to hit that well EVER. Even for a month.
Manny can still mash. His detractors are as comical as Boras calling Andruw Jones a star player.
Most teams would take those numbers, but the question is: For how much $$$$
Well, Manny is not worth signing… The way he hits, he’s more of a leadoff hitter now, without speed. He can’t field, and he’s one of the biggest idiots and distractions in the game. He could bring in some fans
Jones, could be a valuable bench player, as long as he doesn’t let himself go to much. Can play all 3 outfield positions pretty well still, has a lot of pop, and he stole 9 bases last year as a platoon player.
Damon: Can’t field, can’t throw, can run a bit, can sort of play one outfield position, not really though. He could be a decent bat off the bench, with experience, and he could be clutch.
I’m not ready to give up on Manny yet, with his track record, i’d give him the benefit of the doubt.
Same. He was hurt last year quite often and didn’t get the same reps he normall does. If Manny can stay healthy for a full season I can see him batting .300.
yeah did boras or someone connected to him come out and say that manny had a surgery after least season that he didnt even know he needed. I know he had knee problems and hip issues that affects your swing and he still put together a very good season minus the home runs
I think Manny and Thome will be impact players next year for whatever lucky team gets them. Damon & Jones, notasmuch.
Damon still has the ability but if his playing time is limited (depending on where he goes) he may not have a good year.
damon and jones should look for a team looking for 1 full time outfielder…maybe colorado and they should go there and platoon…damon starts against rightys and jones starts against lefties and comes in for damon as a defensive sub
I’d take a .290/.400/.450 line out of my #3 hitter.
In terms of his bat, Manny would be a great fit in Toronto. The guy took more walks than eight of ten Blue Jay regulars, and he only had 320 PA’s.
The question is, do they want to deal with the distraction?
I wonder, though, that without Cito’s swing from your a$$ everytime mentality, perhaps a lot of the Jays are going to have higher .OBP’s and walk totals this year.
How many leadoff hitters bat .300/.410/.460? Manny detractors are hilarious. Yes, the guy is a cancer, but he can still rake, even if he’s no longer a 35 HR bat.
“These guys were star players,”
*fixed
Sounds like Scott’s been lazy and been polishing off his 5 year old sales brochures on these guys.
Almost choked on my own saliva when I read that quote.
“they can be a force in the locker room and around young players.”
Yeah, Manny may not be the kind of force you want around your young players.
As a Rockies fan, I would really want Jones on the team. They need another lefty smasher.
Anyone with pop should be on the Rox wish list. Wonders could be done at Coors. I think Jose Lopez is going to give them 20 homers this year. Coors only improves home runs.
Manny “can be a force in the locker room and around young players.” Isn’t that what they said about Darth Vader? The last thing in the world I would want is Manny in my locker room or around my young players.
“In fact, Crasnick suggests Farrell’s familiarity with the slugger could make the Jays less likely to sign Manny.”
lol. Familiarity, that is probably his #1 setback.
“In fact, Crasnick suggests Farrell’s familiarity with the slugger could make the Jays less likely to sign Manny.”
lol. Familiarity, that is probably his #1 setback.
I’m sorry guys but Manny still has value. Try checking his stats instead of his personality. I regretted the day the Bosox traded him. It is my hope the Rays will sign him as a DH and he will produce a .305/28/101 line.
would u like to post again and lower your projected stats… again lol (see his other posts)
I’m sorry guys but Manny still has value. Try checking his stats instead of his personality. I regretted the day the Bosox traded him. It is my hope the Rays will sign him as a DH and he will produce a .305/28/101 line.
Manny: At that stage of his career where he hits the DL more often than the ball.
Johnny: Pretty much just a PH these days. You can put him in the OF, but that’s only for show these days.
Andruw: Seems happy with his role these days as a 4th OF’er. Biggest worry is he’ll get fat & happy.
Manny: At that stage of his career where he hits the DL more often than the ball.
Johnny: Pretty much just a PH these days. You can put him in the OF, but that’s only for show these days.
Andruw: Seems happy with his role these days as a 4th OF’er. Biggest worry is he’ll get fat & happy.
I like Manny and regret the day he left Boston. Some of you should check his stats rather than his personality. I hope Tampa Bay signs him as a full time DH. If so I would project a .295/27/97 line. nothing wrong with that.
I am gonna say no way on this one. 295AVG 27 HR’s and 97 Rbi’s or do you mean 295 PA’s 27 BB and 97 K’s cause that is probably closer to reality.
If Manny stays healthy, which is a big IF, he might be able to put up those numbers on the right team
I guess Scott Boras doesn’t watch the Onion Sportsdome…
At least Jones can still play in the field. Damon and ManRam can’t say that anymore.
The Rockies and Jones would be a great match. Rox need a 4th OF that can play all the positions, and can hit left handed pitching.
Meant to say that the bar was in the hotel in which Manny lived in full time.
Meant to say that the bar was in the hotel in which Manny lived in full time.
I would love it if Manny went the Jermayne die route.
Dye not die.
Trouble with Manny— A club has to be careful that he may not like getting paid a meager 5 million annual salary when he has been banking 20+ million a year the last 10 years.
I think Manny still has it and if I was a GM I would sign him if the price is right.