The Athletics are "very interested" in adding Manny Ramirez as a designated hitter for 2012, Enrique Rojas of ESPNDeportesLosAngeles.com reports. The Orioles and Blue Jays also watched Ramirez hit at an indoor cage, Rojas adds.
MLB reinstated Ramirez from the voluntary retirement list in December, but he would still have to serve a 50-game suspension for violating MLB's drug policy if and when signs. The 39-year-old slugger has 547 home runs and a career batting line of .312/.411/.585 in 19 MLB seasons. He hit .298/.409/.460 for the Dodgers and White Sox in 2010, his last extended stint in the Major Leagues.
joeybw
Of course they are, he’s or at least was a OF’er, gotta collect em all.
Angry Disgruntled Sox Fan
When they signed Frank Thomas, they reached the ALCs, so you never really know.
dudemanbro
mannyball!
yes, i know that was horrible
rjs
*golf clap*
Thomas Cassidy
Lol.
Brian Jud
Hey why not? He’ll be cheap and they don’t have much to lose this year.
Jason Champion
50 game suspension puts an estimated timeframe at what, the beginning of June?
Ryan Aguirre
Oakland, where the once-mighty go to die… And the future greats are not allowed to live.
MetsORnothing
Piazza fail in OAk
Frank Thomas Fail
Matsui Fail
MAnny…
start_wearing_purple
Actually in 2006 Thomas had a great season in Oakland.
Angry Disgruntled Sox Fan
Yeah, he brought them to the ALCs.
TheGrtBambino
Ya Thomas had 46 jacks in 2006 and lead them to a ALCS….total fail
Oakland_Carl
39 regular season, 2 in the postseason (both game 1 vs. MIN). He was a big reason 2006 was such a good year. He wasn’t as good the 2nd time around, but that’s okay. Thanks for 2006.
Iconoclast17
Right. The Big Hurt along with Milton Headcase helped the A’s make the playoffs in ’06. Of course, that’s when the A’s had major league hitters. 2007, he came down to earth.
DickAlmighty
Fail. Thomas was awesome in Oakland. He stank in Toronto. Nice try, though. How’s Jason Bay working out? Johan? K-Rod?
RepOak
Your a mets fan. Period
Mike Boyer
why not either thier or pittsburg only place he will get a shot he is a cancer for any club and shouldnt be allowed back in mlb but if any team going to take him in would be A’S or Pittsburg just saying he won’t go in hall thats for sure well at least not first few tries
redsx968
Thier? No comment… Thier are no words to describe this choice of spelling
JacobyWanKenobi
“Thier are no words to describe this choice of spelling”
If that part isn’t a joke, I’m going to cry.
For future posters:
There – States a place of being. Shows that something is at a place
and is telling the reader/listener where something is held or placed.
Their – A form of ownership. Something that they have with them,
replace their with a name or proper noun. You could say, “I like Mike
and Julie’s dog.” But with their, you could say, “I like their dog.” It
could show one or more than one person’s ownership, whichever pronoun
(he, she [singular], they [plural] needs it.
They’re – A contraction meaning, “they are”. If you want to make a
sentence using this, make sure the there/their/they’re that your using
reflects upon who your talking about. Make sure saying “they are” makes
sense within the sentence before you place it there.
redsx968
Haha have no fear. I am fully aware of all the spellings and meanings. I was simply poking fun at him
stl_cards16
While I appreciate you trying to educate, you’re on the internet. It’s hopeless.
flickadave
“If you want to make a sentence using this, make sure the there/their/they’re that your using reflects upon who your talking about”
Really? You feel the need to lecture people on the internet about the proper there/their/they’re to use and yet you improperly use “your” instead of “you’re” twice? Really?
Sheeesh, lighten up some.
JacobyWanKenobi
Actually, I made no typos. That was a clear copy/paste from yahoo answers. 😀 I didn’t care enough to type it, so I let Google do the work.
alan104
Could be a nice addition for the A’s.
Iconoclast17
Ahem. Looks like Chris Carter may not be a lock at DH after all as some have said. Didn’t Billy say they were going young? No he didn’t.
brocnessmonster
Even after signing Gomes?
Iconoclast17
I’ve been told in no uncertain terms (Pete) that Gomes will NOT be the DH this year. But, Manny (and I’m no fan of his by ANY stretch) illustrates my point about being a selective hitter v. a player who looks to walk first and always (DH Jack Cust.)
Disgustedfan
Your right thats what I keep telling pete I like selective hitters but I dont like guys like barton and cust who troll for walks all the time. Selective hitters get in good hitters counts and swing at their pitch. Guys like barton go up to walk and take fastballs down the pipe its really annoying.
monroe_says
At least, Manny would be a defensive upgrade over Gomes in LF.
bravo116
I thought it was 100 game suspension for a 2nd offense.
jwsox
I believe he was able to talk it down considering he didn’t play at all last year
Snoochies8
noooo! no no no! stay away, stay far away! you’re already tinkering and backlogging pieces for this rebuild as it is
do not want!
this would be a great signing if chris carter was useful in the field or if we didn’t sign gomes to take up a roster spot with 0 value
tiduss
BILLY BEING BILLY.
Iconoclast17
Exactly, and nice play on manny being manny. This is Beane’s MO—he loves to bring in the older star thumpers at the end of their careers. Can’t resist: Frank Thomas, Giambi, Matsui, Piazza.
This move wouldn’t block anybody. We’re talking DH. I know some are enamored of Carter, but Beane isn’t apparently. Just put it into an easily discernable pattern re: Allen/Carter/Taylor/Outman/Ross—all the AAAA players—are expendable.
Beane said he was open to trading/moving any player not named Jemile Weeks. He did NOT say I’m creating room for Brandon Allen and Chris Carter.
Snoochies8
I’m not enamored with carter, but i just don’t want them spending money on useless guys like manny. signing him will only create another pointless back log is all, without bringing anything in terms of prospects/draft picks in return.
the only guy who i want to see billy sign who won’t be able to bring back prospects or draft picks is at least one more sp to keep guys like peacock and parker in AAA
Iconoclast17
I think they need to spend to a minimum and Ramirez probably wouldn’t cost too much.
As for Parker and Peacock, we’ll see. They got Colon cheap. Wouldn’t be surprised if Beane brings in at least one more journeyman starter, considering the problem the A’s have with pitchers/health.
I could very well be wrong, but I see Parker (barring health setbacks) pitching in Oakland at some point this season.
Snoochies8
Manny would still cost more than league minimum, which for the a’s, is too much to spend on a DH only type right now.
And Parker, i hope he comes up by july. I see milone being in our rotation on opening day.
cardsfan209
Manny Ramirez is a joke now. Oakland shouldn’t even be looking at this guy. If they are looking for a Veteran to mentor the young ones, this is the last player they should be looking at. Plus they just signed Gomes.
Maybe Beane is trying to get himself fired?? Idk, but if they sign Manny….
Disgustedfan
Why not sign Manny. At least with him on the team people will pay attention to the A’s to see what manny is up too. Who knows maybe he will come outta nowhere like frank thomas did and have one last good year even though the chances of that happening are close to nill
cardsfan209
Yeah his last 2 years played in the MLB are real inspiring right? NO. It’d be a pointless signing. Plus he still has to serve his 50 game suspension. And knowing him, he would probably convince players on the team to take roids. He will be more of a locker room cancer than a good influence which isn’t good especially since oakland is a younger team
Snoochies8
there’s all that, plus he’s useless in a rebuild when we have two dh’s who have nothing left to prove, one with no more options, and he won’t bring anything back in the end, whether it’s a prospect or draft pick
cardsfan209
yep. I think it would be smarter to give a roster spot to a younger talent like Chris carter rather than give a washed up Manny one
Iconoclast17
Who are these two mystery players you speak of?
Angry Disgruntled Sox Fan
But when Oakland has no chance of winning, Manny could add a spark.
Snoochies8
a spark is the last thing we need in a wash year like 2012/13
we’ll get our “spark” player when we move to SJ
Angry Disgruntled Sox Fan
I don’t know about that… is SJ even a confirmation yet?
Snoochies8
It’s not, but we won’t be contending until we get permission for a new stadium, wherever it may be. There’s no point to signing guys just for the “oh my god people know this guy!” factor
he won’t bring in a prospect, or a draft pick, he’s pretty much useless
Angry Disgruntled Sox Fan
He could bring in money if he performs well. Remember Mannywood?
Iconoclast17
Maybe it another message to Selig re: San Jose—“Approving the move or I’ll sign Canseco next.” Bud, you don’t want to even think about Roger Clemens in Kelly Green and Fort Knox gold.
Hordak Sanchez
I’d like to see what Manny has left in the tank in Oakland, if they can get him on the cheap. The A’s have nothing to lose in 2012. Why not?
Snoochies8
because we already have 2 dh’s on the team, and we’re rebuilding, and he wouldn’t do anything to help our rebuild but block players who have already mashed in the minors and haven’t yet had a consistent chance to at least TRY to hit in the majors
Hordak Sanchez
Manny wouldn’t be up til June and by that time those “young mashers” will be back in Sacramento because they can’t make the transition to the MLB. Oakland needs all the entertainment it can to attract fans
Snoochies8
it really doesn’t need the entertainment of mannywood, if they’re going to sign someone, sign someone who will for sure bring back a good prospect or net a draft pick, that’s who billy should be aiming for
and that someone should be a pitcher on a 1 or 2 year contract
Hordak Sanchez
I go to games and based off the attendance, Oakland needs someone who comes up to the plate and the crowd gets excited. Oakland doesn’t have any players like that. Manny brings that swagger. Also with Weeks and Crisp, they need someone who can drive them in and Manny can hit (like it or not)
Iconoclast17
Exactly.
Iconoclast17
Again who are these players you mention. Carter? He has a lot to prove—like leaning how to hit major league pitching and improving his work ethic. Who’s the other—Allen? See the proving the major league level comment describing Carter.
Snoochies8
kila ka’aiahue who has no more options, and carter. Carter was never given consistent at bats which hurt his production. given more consistent at bats, i’m sure he could at least be mediocre.
Iconoclast17
I forgot about Kila and thank you for mentioning the consistent AB’s re: Carter. Geren really messed-up these young players.
Snoochies8
god geren was awful…nobody liked that guy
Iconoclast17
Nobody except Beane. We all hated when he’d force Barton to bunt a runner to third base in the early innings (with nobody out!)…and then pretend it was Derek’s decision.
john
Moneyball 2..Billy Beane trades his young good players for a team of misfits and wins the world series. The baseball wporld is stunned. A script only written in hollywood.
kimofromkauai
There is a line in the Moneyball movie; something like “there are rich clubs, then there are poor clubs, then there is 50 feet of crap, then there is the Oakland A’s”.
So true.
Iconoclast17
That would be awesome. Not gonna happen, but it would rock the baseball world if it did. Like the St. Louis Cardinals Gashouse Gang of the early 1930’s. Bartolo Colon could be Dizzy Dean. Jarrod Parker, his younger brother.
redsoxsman
i am sure they hope manny comes in on fire and then they can trade him at the trade deadline ,because he will have trade value if they sign him cheap
pennypincher
Okay now. Looks like the A’s are about to totally rebrand themselves along with the sooner or later relocation.
I mean, Manny AND Bartolo? Last time they were in the same sentence along with Athletic is probably “Ramirez’s HR helps Colon down A’s” a decade ago.
(Yes, a bad attempt at Manny/Athletic joke.. Someone had to do it)
oaklandfan22
I actually wouldn’t mind this signing an when manny gets a day off, give chris carter a chance. I say we sign him!
SarumanTheChef
Christ no. This would be atrocious—giant stink bomb in the face of Melvin as the team tries to build a new direction. No amount of production is worth the clubhouse mess Manny would probably end up being, especially since Carter could easily break out, and even if not, still be, say, Mark Reynolds for the league minimum
If the A’s want to blow money on an older hitter, trade a bag of baseballs for Soriano or Carlos Lee and take on those contracts. Manny is just too, well, Manny
Randy
i would rather have derrek lee
Snoochies8
i’d rather roy oswalt
Randy
me to what about both
Snoochies8
ehhh we’d have to get rid of allen and kila before i’d want lee
Iconoclast17
Be nice to have some pop at first for a change.
Cards_Fanboy
A’s just became my 3rd fav team
nestleraisinets
pretty good storyline for moneyball2
fallen star looking for redemption, Brad Pitt aka Billy Beane interested with the guy, a big fan of the star in fact, gave him second chance, and the rest is history…
David Ebersole
I thought second offense was 100 games.
00uu0
Manny has hit 555 total career home runs not 547 in the ML.
Ryan The Braves Fan For Life
He’s got nothing left
afannaz
wasn’t manny well out of shape when he was suspended/quit? he always, in recent years, looked “fat” and sloppy to me. can you imagine what he looks like by now? so, even if he can hit, can run bases? and, what kind of motivational leader does he represent? imo he’s a real unproductive, bad idea.