Manny Ramirez’ trade saga is playing out like a bad reality TV show, and the Mets yawned at the latest episode.
Ramirez reportedly said Thursday that he wanted to stay with the Red Sox – and then reportedly denied those remarks when he spoke to his agent Thursday night. Regardless, he is not a focus of the Mets’ current plans, a major-league official said.
According to reports, Ramirez said yesterday he doesn’t want a trade and especially doesn’t want to play in the National League, but his agent Greg Genske later said Ramirez denied making the remarks and claimed he’d be open to the right trade. None of this has any bearing on how the Mets want to proceed until spring training, the official said.
There was nothing substantive about recent rumblings of a deal between the Mets and Ramirez, and nothing has changed. They were only looking to strike a deal with Boston if something made financial and roster sense, but the Mets were never determined to acquire him, the official claimed.
The Mets believe they already have a competitive team heading into spring training and have no problem seeing how the current roster shakes out. In other words, the front office may be done tinkering. And this latest development won’t spur on a trade for Oakland lefty Barry Zito (whom the Mets feel won’t be traded) or any other blockbuster moves now that Ramirez appears to be beyond their reach.
There may yet be a deal for Tampa Bay reliever Danys Baez or infielder Julio Lugo, and the Mets want to peddle the disappointing Kaz Matsui on some less suspecting club. They’ll listen for any takers for Kris Benson and/or Steve Trachsel as well.
Ramirez’ initial remarks were well-received by the Red Sox, because they’d like the option of retaining him in 2006 and hope he’s warming up to the idea. However, it doesn’t change their approach, either. If they can get equal value, they’ll still consider a trade.
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The Yankees invited 20 non-roster players to spring training yesterday, including lefty Al Leiter. Other notables included prospects Eric Duncan, an infielder, and Philip Hughes, a right-handed pitcher.
The Yankees have not yet begun negotiating with arbitration-eligible pitcher Shawn Chacon, according to his agent. Chacon hasn’t filed for arbitration yet but has until Jan. 13. Chacon earned $2.35 million in 2005, which was a $500,000 raise on his ’04 salary. He should get a much heftier raise this time after going 7-3 with a 2.85 ERA after coming from Colorado in a midseason trade.
Aaron Small is also arbitration-eligible, and Yankee GM Brian Cashman hopes to negotiate next week with the pair.