Manny-Bay-Prospects... Does it make sense?
I woke up this morning to see if I was dreaming about the likely three-way trade involving Jason Bay and Manny. Here's why it makes sense for everyone involved:
1. Boston gets to send Manny to the NL while getting a player in return who is nearly as productive this year but is not disruptive. Bay still has a year before free agency as well, and could therefore become part of the Red Sox' longterm plans. And the most important part for for Boston: Tampa Bay does not get Jason Bay. Boston also gets reliever John Grabow. It costs them Manny for the playoff run, cash, and a couple strong prospects.
2. Florida gets a productive outfielder, Manny, free for a playoff run (from what I hear Boston will pay Florida the rest of Manny's salary). They give up a couple strong prospects.
3. Pittsburgh gets much needed high-level talent for their farm system, something like four players. They give up Jason Bay.
At first I was skeptical that Boston would trade Manny at this point in the year but considering age, won't Bay be at least as good as Manny for the next few years? And they can more easily keep him around.
Meanwhile, we know Florida is a weird team and probably just wants to go on a strong run this year before selling their team off or something. They do not have to pay the full cost for Bay to the Pirates so it is not a big loss for them.
The Pirates will presumably get great return on Jason Bay, because the Rays and the Red Sox now have to work against each other, both having a desire not only for Bay but also for the other team to not have Bay.
Rumors are that either the Pirates want slightly better prospects or the Marlins want Boston to send a prospect their way. I'm sure I'll be addicted to checking back all day to see what happens.
The greatest part is that the Pirates don't NEED to trade Bay. If we're not happy about the deal, just hang onto him and trade him in the off-season or next year at this time. With a year of arbitration left, the guy is like gold. We should get a couple elite prospects and a couple 2nd or 3rd tier prospects for him.
Finally, with Tampa Bay and Boston both in the running for Bay, the Nady/Marte-to-Yankees trade looks better and better, as it turned up the heat on these two teams to improve their situation.
4 comments:
i'm checking in with all of this every hour, too. the last minute trade possibilities are all so crazy.
as for the potential manny to miami thing... i'd prefer that his bat not go there. however... he's such a slacker in the field that at some point, his lack of defense will become more prominent than whatever he can add offensively. he'd honestly fit best as a dh on some american league team.
i honestly can't stand the guy. i didn't like him as an indian... and i don't like him now. anyone who doesn't hustle shouldn't be rewarded in baseball... no matter how much offense they contribute.
all that to say... i hope the trade doesn't go through... because i don't really want the marlins to be greater contenders than they already are.
I'm off to some job interview related stuff... Can't wait to see the results when I get back!
i'm breathing a sigh of relief right now...
Granted, I didn't get to watch the last few months, but after watching Manny the past 7 or so years, he is vastly underrated defensively. He has the best arm of any Red Sox in my life and for every bonehead non hustle play, he makes a spectacular gold glove caliber play.
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