While it's clear that he's losing it upstairs in the control center, it's not fair to suggest he's losing much on his swing. Whether we like it or not, our offense runs through Manny as much as any teams offense runs through a single player. You want Ortiz to see strikes again? Better keep Manny in that clean up spot. Dont wanna lose more than 100 runs of production and a clutch October bat from your lineup? Better keep Manny in the clean up spot.
Current reports are that the Red Sox are talking to the Marlins about stripping Manny down and selling him for parts. This is so dumb that Jerry Remy rallied against this tonight before talking about himself. I think making this move would be the equivalent of waving a white flag and starting to plan early fall vacations. HELLO McFLY!!! We're just behind Tampa and we're leading the Wild Card race.
Now here comes the curveball... I think there is a good option for a Manny trade, a trade we can make and still defend our World Series championship. A trade that I haven't heard mentioned anywhere yet (as of 7:50 PM): why not trade Manny for Ichiro? Both are outfielders who are on-again off-again disgruntled with their teams. Both are outfielders who are very highly paid. Both are outfielders who can be championship pieces (maybe not this year for the Mariners but they should be better soon). And both are outfielders who can be identified by just one name.
If the Sox and M's can work out a salary match for the two players (Manny apparently demands that his 2 club options be thrown out so he can work to sign a 4-year $100 million deal and Ichiro is on the books until 2012 at $17 million per), I believe this is a tailor made deal. Both teams shake up their rosters by giving up their franchise guy, yet don't lose talent or star-power. Ichiro would feel at home in Boston with Dice-K and and Okajima and Manny would feel at home because we could just tell him Seattle is close to New York City and he wouldn't know any better.
The drawback to Ichiro is that he is old (signed for 5 more years!!) and can't match Manny's power numbers. Yet he makes us better in the field though and speedier on the basepaths. Plus how could you not want him after reading this? The drawback for the Mariners is they lose a fan favorite and guy who rarely sits out. However they get some power into a dreary lineup and add a player who can sell tickets and t-shirts almost as quickly as Ichiro (the deal would obviously hinge on Manny extending with the Mariners after this year).
At the Fens, Ichiro would own the right field corner and moving JD Drew to left wouldn't be a significant drop off from Manny, once he learned the Green Monster caroms (someone get me Mike Greenwell stat!). The Red Sox are still viable contenders with a lineup of Ichiro, Pedroia, Ortiz, Youk, JD, Lowell, Tek, Lugo, and Ellsbury. The Mariners with Manny next year and the boatloads of young talent with him, can compete in the AL West next year (plus have tons of money to go after others, with Ichiro off the books).
I feel like the wingman on the greatest potential set up in history, I just have to get the Mariners and the Red Sox in the same bar.
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