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Nice winter dream: Manny Ramirez as a Cub

Free agent Manny Ramirez joining Cubs? Dreams are free.

By Paul Sullivan | Tribune reporter
February 19, 2009

MESA, Ariz. — It's never too early to dream about a fantasy lineup at Clark and Addison, so when Alfonso Soriano was asked Wednesday about the possibility of the Cubs signing free agent Manny Ramirez, his ears perked up.

"Here?" he said. "Manny Ramirez? He's the greatest hitter in baseball right now. Any team that gets him would be lucky."

Of course, the likelihood of that happening is slim and none.

Ramirez is seeking a multiyear contract worth about $25 million annually and, like most other teams other than the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Cubs have shown absolutely no interest in bringing the enigmatic slugger to town.

Then there's one other little problem—where would Ramirez play in an outfield manned by Soriano in left and Milton Bradley in right?

"The lineup would look good," Aramis Ramirez said. "But that's almost impossible. We already have three starting outfielders."

That's where Soriano comes in. After three years in left field, Soriano would have to move back to his old position, second base, where he began his major-league career before moving to left with Washington in 2006.

It would be a defensive downgrade and a return to the unbalanced lineup the Cubs took such great pains to revise this off-season.

Would Soriano agree to a switch at this point in his career?

"Sure, why not?" he replied. "Our lineup with Manny? Man, it would be kind of like a Yankees lineup."

Manager Lou Piniella could leave Soriano in the leadoff spot, inserting the clutch-hitting Manny Ramirez in the No. 3 hole in front of Bradley, Aramis Ramirez, Derrek Lee and Geovany Soto.

"Sori is OK with going to second?" Aramis Ramirez said. "Who wouldn't to have Manny Ramirez in their lineup? We already have a good lineup, but if we added him—it would be awesome. But it's a long shot."

Another little problem is money, though the Ricketts family, as potential new owners, certainly could afford to give Manny Ramirez the same one-year, $25 million deal the slugger turned down with the Dodgers.

"He had a good year and he carried the Dodgers to the playoffs, and then he did well in the playoffs too," Aramis Ramirez said. "He already has his money on the table. He just doesn't want to take it.

"He has $25 million waiting for a year [from the Dodgers], but he wants a multiyear deal."

Still, the idea of creating a modern-day version of Murderers' Row on the North Side is too delicious to ignore.

"You know what else we'll do?" Ryan Dempster said. "We'll trade for Grady Sizemore, and then get Albert Pujols and put him at backup catcher. Then we'll have an unbelievable lineup one through nine.

"We can even have Pujols just for the games we need a DH."

Like many observers, Dempster believes the Cubs will be fine with Soriano in left and Mike Fontenot and Aaron Miles sharing second.

"I think we're going to score a bunch of runs anyway," he said.

There's always someone to spoil the fun.

Mattingly23

Feb 25 2009, 11:34 AM

Didn't the Cubs trade DeRosa to Cleveland?

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Cubs trade DeRosa to Indians

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ESPN.com news services

CLEVELAND -- Mark DeRosa, who had been rumored to be a part of three- and four-team scenarios in the Jake Peavy trade talks, is finally headed out of Chicago -- but not in a deal for the San Diego Padres' ace.


DeRosa has been traded to the Cleveland Indians for minor league pitchers Jeff Stevens, Chris Archer and John Gaub. DeRosa will likely slide into Cleveland's opening at third base.

"We're going to take advantage of his versatility," Indians general manager Mark Shapiro said. "As the season unfolds, that's one of the many assists he can bring to the table."

With the Cubs close to finalizing another trade -- right-hander Jason Marquis to the Colorado Rockies for right-handed reliever Luis Vizcaino -- the deals are seen as a precursor to the Cubs negotiating a free-agent deal with outfielder Milton Bradley.

The Washington Nationals are believed to have offered Bradley $30 million over three years, and the Tampa Bay Rays are also in the mix, sources tell ESPN.

Neither of Chicago's moves expected to trigger a trade for Peavy. Sources tell ESPN that there are no ongoing talks between the Cubs and Padres involving Peavy.

The 33-year-old DeRosa hit a career-high 21 homers and drove in 87 runs last season in 149 games while playing six different positions for the NL Central champion Cubs.

One of the Indians' priorities during the offseason was to find a dependable, right-handed-hitting infielder. They've considered moving shortstop Jhonny Peralta to third and Asdrubal Cabrera from second to short, and DeRosa's versatility gives them even more options. He made 95 appearances (80 starts) at second base and 22 (10 starts) at third for the Cubs in 2008.

"This is the best infield, that's it," Shapiro said addressing the club's decision to keep Peralta and Cabrera in place. "If we didn't think it was best, we would have moved three guys."

The only other everyday third baseman on Cleveland's roster is Andy Marte. He batted only .221 in 80 games and had to hit .291 over his final 34 games to finish with a respectable average. Marte is out of options.

Peralta, who has limited range, has been playing third base during winter ball in the Dominican Republic. The Indians' preference would be to leave him at short, where he makes all the routine plays but is not as flashy as former Indians shortstop Omar Vizquel -- the Gold Glove measuring stick at the position for Cleveland fans.

DeRosa will be eligible for free agency after making $5.5 million this season. He has been invited to play for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. He has driven in at least 70 runs in each of the past three seasons, and the former college quarterback at Pennsylvania has a .302 career batting average against left-handers.

Shapiro said he has been in talks with Cubs GM Jim Hendry about DeRosa since November.

Indians manager Eric Wedge described DeRosa as "a tough out" and "very solid pickup." He expects DeRosa to bat second in Cleveland's lineup. Wedge will use DeRosa in the outfield to rest players and as protection against left-handers.

DeRosa is the second former Cubs player to join Cleveland this winter. The Indians signed closer Kerry Wood last month and may still try to add another starting pitcher in free agency.

Hendry hated to part with DeRosa, but wanted to add pitching prospects to improve the club's overall depth.

"Obviously, Mark is very, very good and he's a guy I have tremendous respect for," Hendry said. "Certainly the Indians are getting a very, very good player and a first-class young man also. That part of it is always difficult but we felt we had to move forward in this direction and we felt had to make this deal."

Stevens was the only pitcher on Cleveland's 40-man roster involved in the deal. The 25-year-old right-hander went 5-1 last season in 17 games for Double-A Akron and 0-3 with a 3.94 ERA with five saves in 19 games at Triple-A Buffalo.

Archer was 4-8 in 27 starts at Class A Lake County and Gaub was 1-1 in 34 games with the Captains.

"These are three different guys with quality arms at different levels," Hendry said. "From an acquiring point of view, we felt we did very well. Mark [Shapiro] will be the first to tell you that while they very much coveted Mark [DeRosa], this deal certainly stung for them too."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Mattingly23

Feb 25 2009, 12:02 PM

I have no idea why. He seemed perfect for a contending NL team. Here's an article about it.

Quote:

 

Cubs trade DeRosa to Indians

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ESPN.com news services

CLEVELAND -- Mark DeRosa, who had been rumored to be a part of three- and four-team scenarios in the Jake Peavy trade talks, is finally headed out of Chicago -- but not in a deal for the San Diego Padres' ace.


DeRosa has been traded to the Cleveland Indians for minor league pitchers Jeff Stevens, Chris Archer and John Gaub. DeRosa will likely slide into Cleveland's opening at third base.

"We're going to take advantage of his versatility," Indians general manager Mark Shapiro said. "As the season unfolds, that's one of the many assists he can bring to the table."

With the Cubs close to finalizing another trade -- right-hander Jason Marquis to the Colorado Rockies for right-handed reliever Luis Vizcaino -- the deals are seen as a precursor to the Cubs negotiating a free-agent deal with outfielder Milton Bradley.

The Washington Nationals are believed to have offered Bradley $30 million over three years, and the Tampa Bay Rays are also in the mix, sources tell ESPN.

Neither of Chicago's moves expected to trigger a trade for Peavy. Sources tell ESPN that there are no ongoing talks between the Cubs and Padres involving Peavy.

The 33-year-old DeRosa hit a career-high 21 homers and drove in 87 runs last season in 149 games while playing six different positions for the NL Central champion Cubs.

One of the Indians' priorities during the offseason was to find a dependable, right-handed-hitting infielder. They've considered moving shortstop Jhonny Peralta to third and Asdrubal Cabrera from second to short, and DeRosa's versatility gives them even more options. He made 95 appearances (80 starts) at second base and 22 (10 starts) at third for the Cubs in 2008.

"This is the best infield, that's it," Shapiro said addressing the club's decision to keep Peralta and Cabrera in place. "If we didn't think it was best, we would have moved three guys."

The only other everyday third baseman on Cleveland's roster is Andy Marte. He batted only .221 in 80 games and had to hit .291 over his final 34 games to finish with a respectable average. Marte is out of options.

Peralta, who has limited range, has been playing third base during winter ball in the Dominican Republic. The Indians' preference would be to leave him at short, where he makes all the routine plays but is not as flashy as former Indians shortstop Omar Vizquel -- the Gold Glove measuring stick at the position for Cleveland fans.

DeRosa will be eligible for free agency after making $5.5 million this season. He has been invited to play for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. He has driven in at least 70 runs in each of the past three seasons, and the former college quarterback at Pennsylvania has a .302 career batting average against left-handers.

Shapiro said he has been in talks with Cubs GM Jim Hendry about DeRosa since November.

Indians manager Eric Wedge described DeRosa as "a tough out" and "very solid pickup." He expects DeRosa to bat second in Cleveland's lineup. Wedge will use DeRosa in the outfield to rest players and as protection against left-handers.

DeRosa is the second former Cubs player to join Cleveland this winter. The Indians signed closer Kerry Wood last month and may still try to add another starting pitcher in free agency.

Hendry hated to part with DeRosa, but wanted to add pitching prospects to improve the club's overall depth.

"Obviously, Mark is very, very good and he's a guy I have tremendous respect for," Hendry said. "Certainly the Indians are getting a very, very good player and a first-class young man also. That part of it is always difficult but we felt we had to move forward in this direction and we felt had to make this deal."

Stevens was the only pitcher on Cleveland's 40-man roster involved in the deal. The 25-year-old right-hander went 5-1 last season in 17 games for Double-A Akron and 0-3 with a 3.94 ERA with five saves in 19 games at Triple-A Buffalo.

Archer was 4-8 in 27 starts at Class A Lake County and Gaub was 1-1 in 34 games with the Captains.

"These are three different guys with quality arms at different levels," Hendry said. "From an acquiring point of view, we felt we did very well. Mark [Shapiro] will be the first to tell you that while they very much coveted Mark [DeRosa], this deal certainly stung for them too."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.