WOW!
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now we have a nice bat to complement the rest of the team!
this is gonna be sick!
LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers' seemingly endless search for a slugger has ended with, of all people, future Hall of Famer Manny Ramirez.
In the most spectacular in-season acquisition in the 50-year history of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Ramirez was obtained from the Red Sox just before Thursday's 1 p.m. PT Trade Deadline for third baseman Andy LaRoche and former first-round Draft pick pitcher Bryan Morris, who head to the Pirates. Jason Bay goes from Pittsburgh to Boston, and the Pirates received two prospects from the Red Sox.
Ramirez, a 36-year-old, 11-time All-Star and nine-time Silver Slugger, forced Boston to finally deal him in the last week, and he nearly went to the Florida Marlins in a three-team deal with Pittsburgh that would have also brought Bay to the Red Sox.
But that deal unraveled Thursday and the Dodgers apparently got involved late. By getting Ramirez without having to trade top young outfielder Matt Kemp, the Dodgers can make the argument that they haven't scrapped their youth movement, only augmented it with the infusion of the mercurial Ramirez.
"He's one of the best four or five hitters in baseball," manager Joe Torre said on Wednesday, when rumors of Ramirez to the Dodgers heated up. "I like him, yet he marches to his own drummer. I had him in the All-Star Game. It doesn't make sense to me [that he would be available]."
Ramirez has 20 home runs, 68 RBIs and a .299 average this season. He has 510 career home runs in 15 Major League seasons, one batting title and has led the American League in slugging percentage three times.
Over the last five seasons, the only defensive position he has played is left field, which will leave Torre with an outfield crowd of Ramirez, Kemp, Juan Pierre, Andruw Jones and Andre Ethier.
Ramirez's contract, signed in 2001, has club options in 2009 and 2010 at $20 million each. He also received a $1 million relocation bonus for the trade. He is owed $7 million this year, and that amount will likely be paid by Boston.
LaRoche was considered by many to be the best prospect in the organization a year ago, but he's been given several chances to take the starting third-base job for the Dodgers the past two years, and he hasn't hit.
Manny Ramirez
Complete trade coverage
• Cutting bait: Sox trade Manny for Bay
• Dodgers' big splash: Manny to LA
• Fantasy analysis
• Stats: Ramirez | Bay
Sights and Sounds
Ramirez gallery | Bay gallery
Morris is a right-handed pitcher and former first-round pick who underwent Tommy John elbow ligament reconstruction surgery last year.
Ramirez's acquisition capped roster improvement that was triggered by the serious injury to shortstop Rafael Furcal's back, which forced general manager Ned Colletti to begin the moves June 7, when he acquired former American League Rookie of the Year Angel Berroa from Kansas City for Minor Leaguer Juan Rivera. On July 20, Colletti further bolstered the thin infield by signing free agent Pablo Ozuna, who had been released by the White Sox.
On July 26, with Arizona among the clubs showing interest, Colletti acquired Casey Blake from Cleveland for Minor Leaguers Jon Meloan and Carlos Santana. His desire was to obtain an offensive-minded shortstop, but when he found the cost prohibitive, he broadened the search to include third basemen. Blake is 7-for-17 with three doubles and four runs scored since the trade.
%) %) %) %) %) %) %) %)
now we have a nice bat to complement the rest of the team!
this is gonna be sick!
LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers' seemingly endless search for a slugger has ended with, of all people, future Hall of Famer Manny Ramirez.
In the most spectacular in-season acquisition in the 50-year history of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Ramirez was obtained from the Red Sox just before Thursday's 1 p.m. PT Trade Deadline for third baseman Andy LaRoche and former first-round Draft pick pitcher Bryan Morris, who head to the Pirates. Jason Bay goes from Pittsburgh to Boston, and the Pirates received two prospects from the Red Sox.
Ramirez, a 36-year-old, 11-time All-Star and nine-time Silver Slugger, forced Boston to finally deal him in the last week, and he nearly went to the Florida Marlins in a three-team deal with Pittsburgh that would have also brought Bay to the Red Sox.
But that deal unraveled Thursday and the Dodgers apparently got involved late. By getting Ramirez without having to trade top young outfielder Matt Kemp, the Dodgers can make the argument that they haven't scrapped their youth movement, only augmented it with the infusion of the mercurial Ramirez.
"He's one of the best four or five hitters in baseball," manager Joe Torre said on Wednesday, when rumors of Ramirez to the Dodgers heated up. "I like him, yet he marches to his own drummer. I had him in the All-Star Game. It doesn't make sense to me [that he would be available]."
Ramirez has 20 home runs, 68 RBIs and a .299 average this season. He has 510 career home runs in 15 Major League seasons, one batting title and has led the American League in slugging percentage three times.
Over the last five seasons, the only defensive position he has played is left field, which will leave Torre with an outfield crowd of Ramirez, Kemp, Juan Pierre, Andruw Jones and Andre Ethier.
Ramirez's contract, signed in 2001, has club options in 2009 and 2010 at $20 million each. He also received a $1 million relocation bonus for the trade. He is owed $7 million this year, and that amount will likely be paid by Boston.
LaRoche was considered by many to be the best prospect in the organization a year ago, but he's been given several chances to take the starting third-base job for the Dodgers the past two years, and he hasn't hit.
Manny Ramirez
Complete trade coverage
• Cutting bait: Sox trade Manny for Bay
• Dodgers' big splash: Manny to LA
• Fantasy analysis
• Stats: Ramirez | Bay
Sights and Sounds
Ramirez gallery | Bay gallery
Morris is a right-handed pitcher and former first-round pick who underwent Tommy John elbow ligament reconstruction surgery last year.
Ramirez's acquisition capped roster improvement that was triggered by the serious injury to shortstop Rafael Furcal's back, which forced general manager Ned Colletti to begin the moves June 7, when he acquired former American League Rookie of the Year Angel Berroa from Kansas City for Minor Leaguer Juan Rivera. On July 20, Colletti further bolstered the thin infield by signing free agent Pablo Ozuna, who had been released by the White Sox.
On July 26, with Arizona among the clubs showing interest, Colletti acquired Casey Blake from Cleveland for Minor Leaguers Jon Meloan and Carlos Santana. His desire was to obtain an offensive-minded shortstop, but when he found the cost prohibitive, he broadened the search to include third basemen. Blake is 7-for-17 with three doubles and four runs scored since the trade.
