There were conflicting reports this weekend that the New York Yankees were actually discussing whether or not they should bring in one-time Boston Red Sox villain and now free agent outfielder Manny Ramirez.
It was first reported on Thursday night, December 23, by YES Network’s Jack Curry that the Yankees were internally debating if they should sign Ramirez.
On Sunday, December 26, George A. King III of the New York Post reported that the Yankees do not have interest in Ramirez.
Whether the Yankees do or not, it is an interesting scenario nonetheless.
The Yankees missed out on acquiring Cliff Lee, Zack Greinke, Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford. This is one of the first times in recent memory that the Yankees failed to acquire a superstar in the offseason. It seemed the Yankees were destined to land one of their desired studs, but they were ultimately shunned.
The Yankees seem to have been pushed to second fiddle in the AL East by the Boston Red Sox, who have immensely upgraded their ball club.
The Yankees need to make a splash.
Simply bringing back Hall of Famers Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera and signing catcher Russell Martin is not enough for the “Evil Empire.”
Many believe Ramirez would be a poor fit, considering the Yankees are most likely going to keep Jorge Posada as their designated hitter.
Regardless, as Posada is aging rapidly and increasingly injury-prone, Ramirez is an option the Yankees should sincerely consider.
Ramirez had a down year. He only hit nine home runs and had 42 RBI despite hitting .298 for both the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox.
He is also a known troublemaker.
On a one-year contract with the Yankees, Ramirez would most likely be on his best behavior. More importantly, he would be determined to prove he is still a top hitter in the game.
Perhaps even more importantly, one could imagine he would love to stick it to the Boston Red Sox each and every time they play each other. Ramirez would have more incentive to perform for the Yankees than just about any other team in the league. The Yankees provide Ramirez an opportunity to win a ring and seek some revenge on his old ball club.
It is a win-win for the Yankees. Ramirez is only seeking a one-year contract. The Yankees do need another veteran hitter with great power and vision. The Yankees need an insurance plan in case one of their hitters go down or slump. Ramirez is the type of player who can pick up the entire lineup. He is still a dangerous threat and one the Yankees need to consider taking a chance on heading into the 2011 season.
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