The New York Post is reporting that the Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox are talking about a trade that would send Manny Ramirez and cash to L.A. in exchange for either Matt Kemp or Andre Ethier. The Post also believes that if Boston unloads Ramirez, the club would likely make a move for Mark Teixeria of the Braves.
The Mets have continued to talk to the Red Sox without much possibility of finding a deal for Ramirez. The main track now involves the Dodgers. An executive who has spoken with officials from an involved team said it is his understanding that Boston would eat most, if not all, of the roughly $7 million left on Ramirez’s 2008 contract and in exchange would receive a top youngster such as Matt Kemp or Andre Ethier.
The Red Sox would then have another deal in place to obtain Teixeira, who like Ramirez is a Scott Boras client who can be a free agent at the end of the season. The Red Sox would view the overall switch-hitting offense/Gold Glove defense package of Teixeira combined with the removal of the Manny being Manny soap opera as a plus for this season. In addition, they would get an insider two-month look at Teixeira to determine if they want to make a strong, long-term bid on him or simply offset what they give up now to get him by getting two draft picks when he signs elsewhere this winter.
While it seems foolish that the Red Sox would trade one of the best players and eat most of his salary, landing Kemp would be huge. He’s 13 years younger than Manny, hits for average and can run exceptionally well for a guy that is 6-2 and 230 pounds. Kemp might not develop into the power hitter Ramirez is, but he’s an exceptional player and surely the Sox are hoping to land him over Ethier.
