12-11-2005, 12:43 AM
BOSTON -- Manny Ramirez for Miguel Tejada? That's a deal that would hardly do justice to the adjective "blockbuster."
Such a proposal has at least been offered by the Red Sox, according to The Boston Globe and Boston Herald, and also intimated by multiple media outlets in the Baltimore/Washington D.C. area.
Back in late October, word surfaced that Ramirez had asked the Red Sox to trade him, citing an unhappiness with playing in a city which deprived his privacy.
Not long after, the Red Sox confirmed that they promised the slugger they would make a good-faith attempt to trade him.
As the Winter Meetings came to a close on Thursday, Orioles superstar Tejada told a reporter from the Associated Press that he would also like a change of scenery, due to Baltimore's inability to contend in the American League East.
The Red Sox indeed have a shortstop opening that Tejada would fit perfectly into, as the club traded Edgar Renteria to the Braves earlier this week.
While Ramirez and Tejada, two of the game's best offensive players, looks like a great match on paper, there is one issue that could kill even the possibility of such an exchange.
As a 10-5 man (10 years of service time, five with his existing team), Ramirez has the right to veto any trade.
Would Ramirez even accept a trade to the Orioles given their recent status as non-contenders? That possibility seems questionable at best.
Efforts by MLB.com to reach Greg Genke, Ramirez's agent, were unsuccessful.
The Red Sox have a club policy of not discussing specific trade rumors.
Another obstacle is that the Orioles will reportedly make an attempt to persuade Tejada to change his mind before making a serious attempt to trade him.
One of the game's most prolific shortstops, Tejada is two seasons into a six-year, $72 million deal, and the Orioles have not said that they are actively seeking to unload their superstar.
Ramirez is owed $57 million over the final three seasons of his contract.
The Red Sox spent the early part of the Winter Meetings speaking with several undisclosed teams about Ramirez. When no quick match could be found, the Red Sox moved on to other matters, dealing backup catcher Doug Mirabelli to the Padres for second baseman Mark Loretta, and trading Renteria to the Braves for prospect Andy Marte.
At the close of the meetings, Red Sox senior advisor Bill Lajoie said that the club would continue to look for a new home for Ramirez, though they couldn't make any guarantees they'd be successful. "We have laid some groundwork and there are clubs that haven't filled the needs that they talked about," said Lajoie. "There would be an opportunity to pursue this. It just won't be in this arena but it will be pursued."
Such a proposal has at least been offered by the Red Sox, according to The Boston Globe and Boston Herald, and also intimated by multiple media outlets in the Baltimore/Washington D.C. area.
Back in late October, word surfaced that Ramirez had asked the Red Sox to trade him, citing an unhappiness with playing in a city which deprived his privacy.
Not long after, the Red Sox confirmed that they promised the slugger they would make a good-faith attempt to trade him.
As the Winter Meetings came to a close on Thursday, Orioles superstar Tejada told a reporter from the Associated Press that he would also like a change of scenery, due to Baltimore's inability to contend in the American League East.
The Red Sox indeed have a shortstop opening that Tejada would fit perfectly into, as the club traded Edgar Renteria to the Braves earlier this week.
While Ramirez and Tejada, two of the game's best offensive players, looks like a great match on paper, there is one issue that could kill even the possibility of such an exchange.
As a 10-5 man (10 years of service time, five with his existing team), Ramirez has the right to veto any trade.
Would Ramirez even accept a trade to the Orioles given their recent status as non-contenders? That possibility seems questionable at best.
Efforts by MLB.com to reach Greg Genke, Ramirez's agent, were unsuccessful.
The Red Sox have a club policy of not discussing specific trade rumors.
Another obstacle is that the Orioles will reportedly make an attempt to persuade Tejada to change his mind before making a serious attempt to trade him.
One of the game's most prolific shortstops, Tejada is two seasons into a six-year, $72 million deal, and the Orioles have not said that they are actively seeking to unload their superstar.
Ramirez is owed $57 million over the final three seasons of his contract.
The Red Sox spent the early part of the Winter Meetings speaking with several undisclosed teams about Ramirez. When no quick match could be found, the Red Sox moved on to other matters, dealing backup catcher Doug Mirabelli to the Padres for second baseman Mark Loretta, and trading Renteria to the Braves for prospect Andy Marte.
At the close of the meetings, Red Sox senior advisor Bill Lajoie said that the club would continue to look for a new home for Ramirez, though they couldn't make any guarantees they'd be successful. "We have laid some groundwork and there are clubs that haven't filled the needs that they talked about," said Lajoie. "There would be an opportunity to pursue this. It just won't be in this arena but it will be pursued."