Let’s face it, without October baseball for either New York team, we’ve been forced to deal with some discussions that have lasted way too long, such as this whole funny business about trading either Jose Reyes or David Wright.  It’s not all bad though, as now it appears that no matter where you turn, you’re faced with an argument for or against the Mets signing Manny Ramirez.  Let’s see if we can weigh the pros and cons for this move, shall we?

Pros

+ The guy is a proven winner.  He seemingly manages to find himself in the postseason all the time, and has hit 26 homers in October throughout his career.

+ Speaking of the postseason, a certain NL team that I think renamed themselves the LA Mannys don’t even sniff the playoffs without him.  Since he’s joined the team, he’s batted to the tune of .396, while hitting 17 HRs and driving in 53 runs in 53 games.

+ His presence in the Mets lineup takes a ton of pressure off the likes of Carlos Delgado, Carlos Beltran, and David Wright.  The mere thought of having Manny added to a lineup with those guys makes my head explode with delight.

+ How about the amount of Manny jerseys that would fly out of the stores while he’s here?  You have to think the contract starts to pay for itself before too long.

+ Not only would his presence in the lineup be great, but his presence off the field would create the perfect diversion circus that would take some media pressure off Wright as well.

Cons

- How might his personality affect a younger player like Reyes?  If people were worried about what Rickey Henderson did to him while he was here, there’s no telling how much of an effect Manny has on the guy.

- Sure, Manny merch might make some good cash, but he’s not going to bring more fans to a new park which is going to sell out every game for quite possibly all of the next 2 years.  Signing him might make it harder to go after guys like Francisco Rodriguez, for example.

- Forget about the money, what about the years?  Don’t let his performance in LA fool you.  This guy wants a contract with plenty of zeros in it, plain and simple, and he’s prepared to put on an Oscar-winning performance for 3 months in La La Land to get it.  Once he’s secured for four years, who knows how hard he plays.

- The guy might be a proven winner, but he’s far from a proven gamer.  He’s been known to quit on his team when things aren’t exactly going his way, and his lack of hustle can really put a hurtin’ on the team.  I’ll step aside and let Tim McCarver do the talking on this one:

It’s extraordinary — the dichotomy between what he was in Boston and what he is in Los Angeles,” McCarver said, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. “I mean, talk about wearing out your welcome in a town, and it was a long welcome with the Red Sox. But some of the things he did were simply despicable, despicable — like not playing, refusing to play. Forgetting what knee to limp on. And now it’s washed, it’s gone.

So the question is: Should Manny continue being Manny, in Flushing?  I’m glad I’m not the one making the ultimate decision on this one.  He’s definitely clutch, and would make Carlos Voltron more powerful.  But if you ask me, I think the risk is just too great, and I can absolutely see Omar regretting the decision down the road, at the unemployment office.  What do you think?  Feel free to agree with or lambaste me in the comments.

Yeah, I know it was just a thought, but you have to give the Florida Marlins credit for thinking out of the box. The Marlins, while in the mist of trying to trade for Boston Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez had some internal conversations about offering Ramirez to the Yankees. CBSSports.com’s Scott Miller is reporting that the Marlins came to the conclusion that the Yankees would not be interested so the idea was dead on arrival…

While attempting to work the three-way trade with Boston and Pittsburgh, the Marlins, on a parallel path, explored the idea of flipping Ramirez to the New York Yankees, sources with knowledge of the club’s thinking told CBSSports.com. The idea never took flight, partly because the Marlins determined that the Yankees were not receptive to the idea.

The story goes on to say that Ramirez’s agent, Scott Boras, would not have gone along with it. Boras said,

“There were a lot of teams we knew were talking about doing this or doing that, but we weren’t going to make Manny a postcard.”

Of course, Boras is going to say that after the fact, but I doubt he would of stood in the way of Manny coming to NY. If Manny were to go on and have the success we all know he is capable of, on a stage like Yankee Stadium or Shea Stadium for that matter, it would only increase his value come the off-season. Like I opened this post with, you have to give the Marlins credit here. They shocked everyone just getting involved in the Manny saga and then they actually thought about adding to it. Good stuff.

Si.com’s Jon Heyman is reporting that the Dodgers are offering OF Andre Ethier in a deal for OF Manny Ramirez. Heyman is reporting that he has approved a trade to any team, showing everyone how badly he wants out of Boston. Heyman doesn’t think a deal will be able to come to fruition if the Dodgers do not offer blue chipper Matt Kemp.

Added by Peter Wade

Update 4:05 p.m. - ESPN and FoxSports.com are reporting that the 3 way deal involving Manny Ramirez might be back on. Rosenthal writes:

The three-way Manny Ramirez blockbuster may be back on…the Ramirez trade was “dead,” according to an executive with one of the three teams involved in the discussions…However, the deal has taken numerous twists and turns over the past 24 hours, and the teams kept trying to piece together the blockbuster.

Update 4:15 p.m. Rosenthal is now reporting the deal is dead again:

The three-way Manny Ramirez blockbuster remains dead, according to two sources with clubs involved in the negotiations.

ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark is reporting that another “official” is saying the Manny Ramirez to Florida deal is dead.

Yet another official with one of these three teams says the Manny-Bay deal is dead. In the aftermath, the teams involved seem unsure of what happened. The Pirates are blaming the Marlins. The Marlins are blaming the Pirates. And the Red Sox aren’t too happy with either of them.

Update 1:45 - Jayson Stark just said on ESPN News that Jayson Bay is NOT going to the Red Sox. The Manny deal is dead “I’m hearing that now from all ends”, said Stark.

The three way deal that would send Manny Ramirez to the Marlins, Jeremy Hermida to the Pirates and Jason Bay to the Red Sox is on life support, says ESPN’s Peter Gammons. The Marlins realize how desperate the Red Sox are to deal Ramirez, and keep increasing their asking price.

Update 1:13PM ET

FOXsports Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the deal is still very much “on” and SI.com’s Jon Heyman says that if a deal could be completed, Ramirez would waive his no trade clause for a trade to the Marlins

Hmm, who to believe.

Update 1:32

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is reporting that the Pirates have agreed to the prospects they would receive in the three way Manny deal after all.

Wow. That’s the hot stove for you.

Peter Wade now reporting that ESPN’s Jayson Stark is reporting the deal is dead.

Round and round the hot stove goes.

From today’s Daily News…

Inside the visitors’ clubhouse at Dolphin Stadium, Mets Manager Jerry Manuel called over to Endy Chavez, requesting the outfielder come into the interim manager’s office.

“Chavy, we traded you for Manny Ramirez,” Manuel kidded.

“Straight up,” David Wright chimed in. “Nice job.”

Actually, the truth is, Manny is headed to Green Bay.

Appearing on ESPNews, Peter Gammons reported that the Marlins and Red Sox are in “serious discussions” regarding OF Manny Ramirez. He reported that OF Jeremy Hermida could be part of a package.

Wow, well it looks like the Marlins are in it to win it. Gammons is one of the few hot stove writers I believe, so I’m a little concerned this could be legit.

SI.com’s Jon Heyman is reporting that the Phillies are talking to the Red Sox about acquiring Manny Ramirez. Heyman writes that the Phillies are one of three teams the Red Sox are talking to.

The Phillies may be the front-runner for Ramirez, who has told people he probably will OK a deal to Philadelphia if the teams can agree on a trade.

Adam Rubin of the Daily News spoke with Pedro Martinez after his bullpen session and he asked him about the Manny trade talks:

“Manny is a great teammate. Manny is a great human being, too. … Manny is just Manny. He has his own way to do things. You know what? If you look at the numbers, it doesn’t affect anything in the game. A lot of people expect us to be perfect outside of baseball as well as in the field. And sometimes that’s not going to be possible. But I haven’t heard anything of Manny coming over. I haven’t heard from Manny yet, except for the condolences that his family sent along with his wife. As far as Manny being traded, it seems like every year - every spring training - it’s the same thing with Manny. He’s always in Boston putting up the numbers and he ends up being one of the biggest pieces for everything Boston does. So I’m wishing Manny the best. Whatever happens, happens. If he comes over, I’ll welcome Manny anytime. He plays on my team anytime.”

Omar, please get going. Don’t let this happen.

Added By Rob Harding

The way i see it, the only way this would work financially is if they traded Pat Burrell in the deal, and Burrell has had just a good a season, if not better, than Ramirez. I guess the fact of having Manny Ramirez in your lineup alone helps, but even if this were to happen, I don’t think it’d be a back breaker from the Mets perspective…

Added by Peter Wade

Update - 10:03 p.m. - Jayson Stark of ESPN.com is reporting that every report out there about Manny Ramirez is false.

A Phillies official told ESPN.com Tuesday night persistent reports that the Phillies are pursuing Manny Ramirez are “false” and said the Phillies have “nothing doing” with the Red Sox…a baseball man who speaks regularly with the Dodgers’ front office said that the Dodgers also have no interest in trading for Ramirez.

Stark also adds that the Mets and Diamondbacks have already denied any interest in Ramirez. So, even though the Red Sox are looking to rid themselves of Manny, they have yet to find a partner.

Update - 11:00 p.m. - SI.com’s Jon Heyman live on SNY said the Manny Ramirez to Philly deal is 50/50. Heyman said both sides are talking and he would consider the Phillies favorites to get Manny if he goes anywhere.

Asked if that would put pressure on Omar Minaya to make a move for a bat Heyman said, most teams are looking for Fernando Martinez in return. Heyman did not rule out a move by the Mets but he did say the Mets have a lot of “untouchables” and that makes if tough to make any significant trades.

Update 7/30 - 2:15 a.m. - Manny Ramirez in a Phillies uniform is laughable if you believe what MLB.com is reporting:

A team source laughed at the notion that the Phillies were the “front-runner” in the sweepstakes to land the enigmatic Red Sox slugger, as reported by SI.com. The team’s source called SI.com’s story “untrue” and added that the Phillies aren’t involved in talks to land Ramirez.

MLB.com also points out that Pat Burrell, the possible player that would go to the Red Sox in the SI.com story, would have to waive his no-trade clause. Burrell has refused to waive that right in the past.

According to ESPN Deportes via the AP Manny Ramirez is willing to help the Red Sox trade him. Many reports have Manny going to Philly where he has a relationship with Phillies manager Charlie Manuel from their days in Cleveland.

Manny Ramirez is willing to work with the Red Sox on a trade that would get him out of Boston, according to .

I know there are people who don’t want Manny here but I’m not one of them. C’mon Omar work some magic.

Update 5:25 - The following are some quotes from ESPN.com:

“If the Red Sox are a better team without Manny Ramirez, they should trade me; I will not object,”…”I don’t have any preferences: I could choose a team that offers me the best conditions or one in the chase for the postseason. I don’t care where I play, I can even play in Iraq if need be. My job is to play baseball,” added Ramirez.

Update 6:35 - Adam Rubin of the Daily News writes:

Get ready for a whole bunch of stories linking the Mets to Manny Ramirez. And file it in the fertilizer category.

Way to be a killjoy there Adam.

Update 7:45 - Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com writes:

The Mets and Phillies have contacted the Red Sox about a possible deal, major-league sources say, but the Mets deny serious interest in Ramirez and the Phillies are even more of a longshot…The Mets can’t trade any more trade top prospects, can’t mess with their improved vibe under new manager Jerry Manuel.