From Rotoworld:

No word yet on whether agent Scott Boras was also able to add a clause forcing the Dodgers not to offer Ramirez arbitration. Ramirez would be more valuable as a free agent this winter if the teams pursuing him didn't have to worry about losing a draft pick. The Dodgers might not want to offer arbitration anyway.

Guau!

Are they really going to bench two of those five OF? It doesn't make sense. There has to be another trade coming. The only logical thing I can think of is they trade Pierre in August, since he'd probably clear waivers.

Let's face it: Manny is a HOF player who is still raking. This could end up being the biggest deal in Dodger history. Torre HAS to do the right thing and bench Jones and Pierre.

Ramirez has been dogging it in Boston to a legendary degree lately

Lots of dishonest at-bats.

Jon, I will actually miss watching Manny with the Sox on one hand. He was a great rival, a guy who murders the Yanks. He's a nut, but you'll love watching him hit. Never overdoes it in his approach, a line drive up the middle will do. Amazing breaking ball hitter. But you know this stuff. If anyone can reach Manny, it's Torre.

Posted in the other thread

Ned is a freaking genius. I can't believe I didn't think of this earlier!

Manny plays 7 innings, Juan Pierre pinch runs for him in the late innings, and then Andruw Jones will come in late for defensive purposes. It only took Ned $47 million to fill the LF spot!

Great news for the La Roche family, too.

Andy must be thrilled to be teamed with his brother AND to be out from under Colletti's thumb.

That's a pretty good looking lineup, but I agree with others, it will be too rarely on the card.

This is a move a B-level franchise would make. The Dodgers were not, and are still not, one player away from a World Series title. Colletti sold the future for a playoff run and, most likely, a first- or second-round elimination in October.

Meanwhile, Andy LaRoche becomes the new Paul Konerko. At least he'll get the fair chance with the Pirates that he never got with the Dodgers.

I'll believe a Jones AND Pierre benching when I see it. That's $27 million on the bench.

It's on dodgers.com now. But no details yet.

1 That's pretty key..

- I don't trust Torre to pick the right three outfielders everyday. Ethier and Kemp will miss starts they should get.

- I'm not optimistic that this team can go far in the playoffs,

Hence, I would have preferred not to rent Manny for two months with the give-back of the compensation draft pick, unless they actually sign a great draft pick...

Rosenthal (so take with a shovel of salt) said this morning that the Manny to FLA deal included a deal that Manny would agree to decline arbitration with the Marlins so they'd get draft picks.

I really hope the Dodgers still retain the right to offer arb.

Just in off the wire.

Ned trades Pierre and Jones to the Yankees for a ham sandwich and a roadmap!

Wow! Just got the news. Someone tell 2spin!

8 You know, that's true. I truly had a soft spot for Andy though--saw his first ML start in Atlanta and was so excited. Torre better start the right OF and win this year.

Please, please, please keep Jones and Pierre on the bench.

10 Meanwhile, Andy LaRoche becomes the new Paul Konerko.

Wait, Manny is going to close for the Dodgers? =)

Unreal. My hat's off to Ned. Manny should be very motivated to play well.

I'm watching the WBC press conference. No mention of the trade yet.

The Pirates will hold a news conference at 2:30

1 That would be so appropriate for this team. LaRoche and Morris gone, and not even a draft pick to show for it.

This deal only works if Pierre and Jones sit and like someone already said, I'll believe it when I see it.

17 That's funny.

Why is anyone saying the Dodgers have five starting outfielders?

There are three: Ramirez, Kemp, Ethier.

Pierre should get some starts here and there. Jones should spend a month (at least) in Las Vegas.

-- all told:
LaRoche, Meloan, Santana, Morris
for
two months of Ramirez and Blake

I'll take it.

I just got to school to work on my classroom, and find out Manny is a Dodger.

Oh happy day!
Good jorb Ned Colletti!

1
Not another JD Drew case.

The big question here is... Do the Dodgers deserve Manny Ramirez?

They cant put Manny anywhere but LF.

But unless Andruw agrees to play RF, the Dodgers should at least never have to play Manny/Druw/Pierre all at once.

Beats the LaRoche for Wilson rumors. Crazy Manny coming to LA, Ned I will say I'm impressed.

Boo!

The Dodgers talk about chemistry, and then they go and add a player who plays defense with the ability of a bronze statue, listens to music in the outfield during games, pops off in the media with no provocation, beats up team employees, and was recently accused by his team of throwing games.

Give me Milton Friggin' Bradley back.

And now we need a damn third baseman for next year. (And all the years after that, for that matter.)

Did anyone else see that Ethan Martin is out for the year after needing knee surgery (dodgers.com)? At least it's not his arm.

10 - "Colletti sold the future for a playoff run and, most likely, a first- or second-round elimination in October."

If that's the worst-case scenario, color me happy.
What's the key to winning in the playoffs? Reaching the playoffs.

10 - The Dodgers didn't sell "the future." They sold two parts of the future.

I'm as senstive the future as anyone this side of Canuck, but there should be perspective.

The NL is there for the taking. I would take a World Series berth and a crapshoot (forgive me) against the AL team.

You are right. It all hinges on who is benched.

But, given the choice of who to let go: LaRoche, Ethier or Kemp, I think we at least kept the two I'd prefer.

10 Not completely disagreeing with you, but why are you so sure the Dodgers are not a legit world series contender? They have both starting pitching and a great pen, and now they have a great line-up. (I'm still worried about their defense though.) And, as Jon says, if Furcal actually came back, too, can you imagine? I am not exactly penciling in the world series dates yet but in the NL anything is possible. And this team is no more flawed than most of the other contenders at this point, imho.

If they wouldn't trade Kemp, their not going to bench him.

30 We need a shortstop, maybe they'll put Manny there :)

32 - I agree the Dodgers are hypocrites, but we knew that already.

Just in off the wire.

Ned's ham sandwich is spoiled and the roadmap is nothing more than than crayon marks on a IHOP childrens menu!

38 Now is not the time to be mixing homophones!

I'm all atwitter.

I was about to post the new lineup in the last thread before I saw the NPUT and Jon's version here. LEGIT.

I'm with 11 . I refuse to believe Pierre and Jones will do most of the sitting.

And Pee Wee gets a new roommate.

I just thought of a bright side to all this: the Dodgers are gonna get a lot more coverage on ESPN from now on, since those guys absolutely love Manny.

And now we need a damn third baseman for next year.

I'm sure Casey Blake will be re-signed.

The thing is, I wouldnt have minded signing Manny in the off-season. So getting him 2 months earlier, and only giving up LaRoche/Morris to do it is fine.

The Santana/Meloan for Blake deal was far far worse than this.

This one is probably Ned's 2nd best deal, behind Maddux for Izturis.

Couldn't we have just signed Barry Bonds?

There has to be another trade coming. Pierre and Jones are not going to be sitting on the bench for the rest of the season, and I think that Torre really likes Ethier and Kemp.

By Monday, Manny is going to be a hero in this town.

34 If that's the worst-case scenario, color me happy.

That is, I feel, the best-case scenario.

38 You are in your classroom and you said their not going to bench him?

I hate this deal. Two months of Manny for five years of LaRoche. Manny's D will be horrible in Dodger Stadium. If you factor in defense (thinking WARP here) I bet LaRoche is the better player in 2010, if not 2009.

I don't know what to think. I am excited to have a player like Manny Ramirez joining the Dodgers. But, I will miss Andy LaRoche. Many here on this board know what it's like for the Dodgers to win a WS, heck, many here know what it's like to win a postseason series. Some of us, like myself, do not know what it's like. All my life, the Dodgers have been..well...mediocre to be honest. Last time Dodgers won a WS, I was six months old. I really do hope we can make a legit run at this thing!!!

Let's go Dodgers!

This deal sucks.

How much better are the Dodgers now? Instead of a 80-82 win team they're what? 85 wins or so. Thats still mediocre even if it does get you into the playoffs. I don't like the idea of trading several years of LaRoche so two months of Manny can make us slightly less mediocre and save Neds job. Id rather see the team build towards something good one or two years down the line.

{10}-An awful lot of conjecture there. I dig LaRoche, but not only is it a reach to propose he's "the next Konerko," but we just traded a minor-league third-baseman for a difference-making player. Not for Casey Blake or Julio Lugo, but for a guy who can actually mash. This isn't Kemp, or Loney, or Martin or Kershaw or Billingsley we just gave up. I'd hardly call it "mortgaging the future," especially if we get the picks back. Now whether the Dodgers are indeed "one player away from a title"--I'm inclined to agree and think they aren't. But if Torre plays the right people (a tall if), that certainly gives us an offense to go with our pitching. And should Furcal be back in September that would be something. It'll certainly make the remainder of the season something to watch.

32 We knew that when they signed Bennett.

Can someone explain to me how we "sold our future." I mean, LaRoche couldn't even be the present and was clearly not favored as much as DeWitt. I don't see what future he had here, although I think he is a future allstar.

I can see people not liking the trade, but I hope someone will explain to me why they think we just mortgaged our future.

By Monday, Manny is going to be a hero in this town.

Thats only if he doesnt suck.

If he does, he'll get more boos than Andruw Jones bc unlike Druw (who can still play the OF), Manny's gonna be seen as a clown.

Looking at the lineup Jon posted, Loney better put his hitting shoes on, because Manny's gonna get a lot of IBBs.

54 That's basically how I feel, too.

The real question is: What number will Manny Ramirez wear with the Dodgers? I would bet a lot of money Manny has never heard of Walter Alston, he of the retired #24.

Best case scenario-Manny rakes, Torre sits Jones and Pierre, and Dodgers hit the postseason running.
Worst case scenario-Manny jakes, Torre tries to keep all five outfielders happy, Dodgers don't win the division, and LaRoche turns into a stud 3B.

OK, what are the flights out of Boston, or wherever he is? We have to introduce him to the Snakes asap.

Peter Abraham (guy who broke the Torre thing) is reporting we will get to offer Manny arb, with him declining.

As someone noted yesterday, Ramirez, Kent, and Bowa should make for an interesting locker room. At least it takes the spotlight from the younger players.

LaRoche couldn't even be the present and was clearly not favored as much as DeWitt.

But that was bad managing on the Dodgers part.

LaRoche should have been playing 3rd base all along. But, if you're gonna deal LaRoche & get two months of Manny, it sure beats trading him for a year and a half of a Jack Wilson.

Manny can play rover in a 4-man outfield without a shortstop. That will win some ballgames!

If Furcal comes back for September and we bench Pierre and Jones, we have one solid line-up.

I have to admit, I didn't think Ned was smart enough to pull this off. I'll miss Andy, but come on this is Manny we're talking about. An outfield of Manny, Kemp and Ethier is a pretty good outfield. At least now Pierre can be used as he should be a pinch runner, and Druw can play defense late in the game.

This is Ned trying to save his job. It may well put the Dodgers into the playoffs, meaning we have to endure another season of being almost a great team. Ned's going to waste our opportunity to turn all this young talent into a dynasty.

wow this is insane, just read the news...as others have stated, im pretty impressed colletti held on to ethier and kemp, but that could mean another deal is coming

im pretty excited to get home now and see him out there in dodger blue, im a ferry ride away from beantown so i cant wait to chat wth ome folks in sox country

i just hope that pierre and druw stay on the bench, wishful thinking though

Since this IS our team we're talking about, what's the over/under on Manny blowing a knee trying to make a routine catch? 15 games?

#48 Not a bad point all things considering.

With our rotation, how can you say this deal DOESN'T make us a contender? We're 16-9 in July, Blake has given us the first real offensive threat at 3B that we've had in a while, and, oh, we have one of the greatest home-run hitters of all time joining the lineup, and no one can say that he's in decline like Andruw Jones. Plus, he's hilarious.

ESPN.com is streaming the ESPN radio affiliate in LA. The hosts are loving the trade, and ridiculing the callers who don't like the deal.

So much speculation that Ethier is going. But, I say if he is not and either Pierre or Jones (doubt that) are traded, this is a great move.

I'm kind of interested to see Manny standing at home plate watching his first homer as a Dodger. Hope it happens soon!

WOW. How fast we turned on Blake DeWitt. Aren't we the ones that called him The Solution?

Yes, I preferred LaRoche, but DeWitt is still a first-round talent that needed more time in the minors.

Now he's got it and hopefully he'll be ready for a true full-time job next spring.

Man, am I glad I have tickets for Saturday night! And tonight, too, but especially Saturday.

Jones was going to be sitting anyway. I don't see that changing--heck, with Manny as cover they could even send him down. JP is the "bigger" problem, but it's significant that Ned didn't trade Ethier or Bison. I'm hopeful we get the right OF most nights.

This move improves the Dodgers' lineup greatly right now. Third base can be dealt with in the offseason or possibly filled in the future by DeWitt. This will be the deal that gets the Dodgers to the postseason as Manny is a huge upgrade over Pierre.

55 - Instead of a 80-82 win team they're what? 85 wins or so.

For the Dodgers to win 85 games, they have to go at least 31-24 over the final two months. That's a winning percentage of .564 - over a 162-game season, that's a record of 91-71.
A team with 91 wins can do damage in the postseason, especially in the National League.

"He adds that the Red Sox will pay the $7MM remaining on Manny's contract."

So basically the Dodgers don't have to pay Manny anything?

1st Playoff Game:
Furcal(SS)
Ethier(RF)
Kemp (CF)
Manny (LF)
Loney(1st)
Blake(3rd)
Martin(C)
Kent(2nd)
Billingsley

You telling me that team does not have a shot at going to the world series?

McCourt just announced the Ramirez acquisition, but provided no details.

Man, if someone told me yesterday that Ned would trade for Manny and keep both Ethier and Kemp, I'd have been ecstatic. And the more I think about it, the more excited I am to watch this team. Do you think Manny'll get to LA early enough to play tonight?

Frank McCourt just made the announcement on the WBC conference. He calls Manny Ramirez one of the "world classic baseball players." He didn't mention any other players in the announcement.

0 - I don't watch Ramirez play much

In the recent Angels homestand against the Sawx, I saw the most ridiculous thing ever: not only did Manny blow fielding a routine single, turning it into a game-winning RBI triple, but he rolled over on it, sat like a beached whale with his back on the field, and finally Coco Crisp bailed him out by picking up the ball and getting it back to the infield. I was at the park that day and never saw the highlight reels of that play, but it was the most ridiculous misplay I've ever seen in my life.

http://6-4-2.blogspot.com/2008/07/lackeys-1000th-k-only-cherry-angels-11.html

We'd better win it all this year. We've got holes in at least five positions next year and there's no way we can buy our way out of all of them.

56 , 58 LaRoche is only a "minor-league third baseman" and is not "in the present" because the Dodger brass seriously misallocated the resources they had. He should have been the starting 3B on the team as soon as he healed from his injury in spring training.

60 Cliff, "Crazy Eyes" Loney always has his hitting shoes on! Except when he has his DP shoes on. But I'm sure he'll be fine with it.

Ramirez, Kent, and Bowa should make for an interesting locker room.

And if they do bench Pierre, he'll start whining too. If they don't bench him, I'll be whining.

"Last time Dodgers won a WS, I was six months old"

Dude! We were born during the same month (April 1988).

Jones if he does not break the Mendoza line, just go ahead and eat it, Unconditional Release him.

No matter how good Andruw's arm is, or how good a defense he puts up, if he don't hit, let him be gone.

expect an outfield of Manny-Kemp-Pierre, with Ethier in for Pierre 1/3 of the time

Wow.

85
We have to be smart enough and lucky enough to use that lineup.

All of these adolescents. I wasn't born until after the Kirk Gibson hit. Ha! Beat that!

There is no way the Dodgers are going to trade Kemp.

I think the Dodgers problems can be solved by putting Andruw or Pierre in charge of Manny's ticket requests.

I just don't like Manny. He is a buffoon. We need that big bat, but this deal just shows us how much the Dodgers have absoluately no strategy. We are paying 3 outfielders almost $50M just this year and two of them won't be starting (if we are lucky) and the third, while a great hitter is getting up there in years, plays terrible defense, and isn't exactly great in the clubhouse to put it nicely.

Also, I am upset about losing LaRoche. He hadn't shown his value in the majors yet, but I still think he has the makings of being a 280 ba and 25-30HR third baseman. That is tough to give up.

This is just another example of how the Angels have become the standard of excellence in California MLB

We can debate how good LaRoche will be and what this means for our future, but I do think people aren't paying proper attention to the fact that we just got one of the best freakin' hitters in our lifetimes. And he's not going to "dog it" now that he's got his audition for his new contract. Remember, Andruw Jones tailed off BEFORE we got him. Manny is still a great hitter this year.

Manny Kemp Ethier

Now that we can actually win this thing, let's stop being stupid and bench the other stiffs.

Trade Jones and pickup all of his salary for this year and a third to half of his salary for next year. I was really hoping that Jones would rebound when he came back from the injury, but that looks very unlikely. It's amazing how much the guy has declined, yet he's at an age where he's supposed to be in the