Mannymania headed to Cali
Dodgers bolster roster with landmark deal
Friday, August 1, 2008 10:32 AM PDT
| |
| In this July 26, 2008, file photo, Boston Red Sox left fielder Manny Ramirez prepares to take batting practice before a baseball game against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park in Boston. Ramirez was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a three-team trade Thursday that brought Jason Bay, of the Pittsburgh Pirates, to Boston. |
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Manny Ramirez is heading west, a summer rental of sorts for the Los Angeles Dodgers following an ugly exodus from Boston.
The Dodgers acquired the future Hall of Famer from the exasperated Red Sox on Thursday, giving up two minor leaguers in a stunning three-team trade that sent outfielder Jason Bay from Pittsburgh to Boston.
The Dodgers also received cash considerations, general manager Ned Colletti said, in a deal that was completed just before the 4 p.m. EDT deadline for making trades without waivers.
The Red Sox will pay the estimated $7 million owed to Ramirez through the end of the season, at which time he can become a free agent.
Ramirez was in the final guaranteed year of an eight-year, $160 million contract, and the Red Sox held $20 million options for the next two seasons.
As part of the trade, the club options were eliminated, meaning the mercurial slugger might be playing elsewhere next season.
Ramirez is expected to make his Los Angeles debut tonight against Arizona’s Randy Johnson in the second game of a four-game series.
‘‘We figured we had to do it,’’ Colletti said. ‘‘Hopefully it pays dividends. We’re confident we’ve got one of the best hitters in baseball coming in here — one of the best hitters of his generation from the right side. He’s a champion, he’s a winner, and we really couldn’t be happier with trying to make the club better at this point in time than to do this.
‘‘We wanted this player at least for the next two months, and hopefully longer. So we’re willing to take the chance and go with this guy.’’
The Dodgers have a dreadful postseason history since winning the World Series in 1988, qualifying only four times and winning just one game.
Former Boston teammates Derek Lowe and Nomar Garciaparra, now playing with the Dodgers, were delighted with the move.
‘‘I think people for some reason think he’s lazy and a bad teammate and that he doesn’t care,’’ Lowe said. ‘‘He’s none of the above. Does he do some goofy things? Absolutely. He does do some goofy things. But as far as preparation and knowing the game and wanting to win, there’s no way you put up those numbers year in and year out unless you’re a special talent and work at it. And he does both.’’
The 36-year-old Ramirez, who hit his 500th home run earlier this season, was batting .299 and led the Red Sox with 20 homers and 68 RBIs.
