Here we are nine days from the start of spring training and the list of available free agents is absurd. Its gotten to the point where everyone has written the "all-free agent team" article such as this one. With so much top notch talent for hire and most wallets thinner than last year, GMs need to start getting creative. To illustrate my point I will explain how any GM should court the services of Manny Ramirez. Seriously, there isn't one team that Manny wouldn't hit 3rd or 4th for this year, not one.
First, you must realize that Manny does not need money. He has made enough money to retire 10 times, each time like a king. He no longer has any concept of money. When he left Boston they found un-cashed checks in his locker.He is basically in the same situation Forrest Gump was in after investing in Apple, he no longer needs to worry about money. "That's one less thing." Its not about the money for Manny, its all about the status and the respect. Status and respect in baseball are dictated entirely by length and magnitude of contract... until now.
Manny needs to know that he is loved and respected. The economy is down so paying him 30 million per year is out of the question. I propose the following stipulations in Manny's contract:
1. For the entire time Manny is with your team and for 5 years following his departure - he gets to name the stadium anything he wants. "The House that Manny built" "Man-Ram's" " I-HOP"... whatever. Its his call.
2. Manny gets to setup all in stadium promotions during the season. It would be like having a minor league team run by a crazy uncle. Its liver and onions day today at Man-Ram stadium.
3. Manny gets to control 3 spots on the 25-man roster. If Manny wants to bring in Pedro, Shaq, and Charles Nagy you go out and sign Pedro, plug in Shaq at third, and find Charles Nagy. Its Manny's call. Trust me, a 22-man roster with Manny is better than a 25-man roster without Manny.
4. A tricked out golf cart will be responsible for driving Manny to and from left between innings. Picture the bullpen cars from the 80s. It would be like a Zamboni. Manny could fire the t-shirt gun on his way out.
All of these little additions are public ways to decree the respect you have for Manny. He doesn't need the money, he just wants the respect, and nothing says respect like t-shirt guns between innings.
Friday, February 6, 2009
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I am not sure about the whole "give him three roster spots", but I do agree all he wants is respect from a club. You would think LA would pony up to this idea since they won't have to pay him a crazy kind of money.
I also think Manny wants to live in a good town. Something that goes well with his personality. I don't think he could manage if say Kansas City tried to sign him.
All this equals LA, but LA doesn't know the language of respect besides in dollar bill signs. Maybe, they can let him coach USC's baseball team or get him into a movie deal with like Dwayne Johnson or something. It would be like "Black Hammer, White Lightning 2: Latino Jammer, Samoan Might"!
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