December 14, 2003 -- NEW ORLEANS - Rangers and Red Sox ownership have described the Alex Rodriguez-Manny Ramirez trade talks as a back-burner issue now. But a person familiar with the negotiations still expects a deal to be consummated, because the main actors involved are untenable where they are.
A-Rod might have hated being on a last-place Ranger team the last three years, but at least he was not booed. Now, however, with his desire to get out so public, Rodriguez's life in Texas would become even more miserable. Plus, he is in a mutual-hate relationship with manager Buck Showalter.
Ramirez was hardly beloved in Boston to begin with. Now the outfielder has publicly exclaimed he wants to be a Yankee, making him a Fenway villain forever. Plus, he knows management put him on irrevocable waivers, meaning it would have taken nothing in return simply to be rid of him.
Shortstop Nomar Garciaparra and management recently had a nasty, public exchange over his contract. The Boston media was reporting the Red Sox and Garciaparra have renewed contract talks. But rumors also persist - despite regular denials - of a three-team deal in which Garciaparra and OF Trot Nixon would end up in Philadelphia, Ramirez and SS Jimmy Rollins would go to Texas, and A-Rod and OF Bobby Abreu would go to the Red Sox.
These meetings end tomorrow and we predict that sometime shortly afterward, all sides will finally show their best hands, and the A-Rod/Manny blockbuster will get done.
* An interesting side figure in the Manny/A-Rod issue is Rich Aurilia. Both the Rangers and Red Sox have talked to Aurilia's agent, Barry Axelrod, saying his client is a potential shortstop replacement for A-Rod in Texas or Nomar in Boston. The Red Sox also are interested in the former Giant as a second baseman to play next to either Nomar or A-Rod.
Another second base option for Boston is waiting to see if Tampa non-tenders 2B Marlon Anderson, who played for new Red Sox manager Terry Francona in Philadelphia.
The Red Sox guaranteed Keith Foulke three years at $24 million, but it was a chance for that pact to swell to $27 million with bonuses that convinced the closer to sign rather than take Oakland's four-year, $24 million bid. The A's also lost out to the Mets despite a four-year bid for OF Mike Cameron.
Oakland's former shortstop, Miguel Tejada, has been offered a five-year, $50 million pact by Detroit, but he doesn't want to join the horrid Tigers. The Orioles, Dodgers and Mariners are willing to go into the three-year, $27 million range for Tejada.
The Braves moved to replace OF Gary Sheffield by acquiring OF J.D. Drew in a five-player trade with St. Louis in which the Cards saved enough money that they may be able to get into the market for right-hander Greg Maddux. If the Cards go cheap, they would probably turn to righty Jeff Suppan.
With Drew off the market and after finding their inquiries into Colorado OF Preston Wilson unsatisfying, Los Angeles traded for Florida OF Juan Encarnacion. Besides Wilson, the Rockies also are trying to move OF Jay Payton, but were turned down in their bids to deal him to Montreal for righty Zach Day.
* It certainly was not worth losing Andy Pettitte, but the Yanks are going to improve their drafting position by having the lefty go to the Astros. The Yanks were due to pick 27th in the first round, but lost that to Los Angeles for signing reliever Paul Quantrill, a Type-A free agent. But now they will get Houston's first pick, the 24th overall, as compensation for Pettitte.
The Devil Rays are trying to finalize a multi-year pact with slugging OF Aubrey Huff and - if they fail - they will look to trade him. The Mets would be interested. The Mets had inquired about Geoff Jenkins, but Milwaukee said the outfielder is not available.
Designated hitter Frank Thomas has demanded a trade from the White Sox. Thomas wants out because he does not like his new manager, Ozzie Guillen, and the feeling is mutual. In fact, Guillen wants speedy, pesky players and has told upper management to deal Thomas, OFs Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Lee and 1B Paul Konerko.
The Orioles are considering one plan in which they would sign both Pudge Rodriguez and Javy Lopez and have them share the catching/DH duties. The White Sox are viewed as the front-runners for righty Sidney Ponson with a three-year, $18 million offer. If they fail to land Ponson, the White Sox are said to be interested in seeing if Seattle non-tenders righty Freddy Garcia. So are at least the Dodgers and White Sox.
San Diego is closing in on lefty Sterling Hitchcock and is re-visiting taking on C Jason Kendall if the Pirates are willing to swallow a large chunk of contract. The Royals, Devil Rays, Diamondbacks and Expos are pursuing OF Juan Gonzalez.
