Buster Olney, ESPN Baseball Analyst

Let's talk some baseball with one of the best in the business. Buster only from ESPN brought you by blue cross wanna win with a walked. The goal getter odometer iPhone app from blue cross can help you reach your fitness goals. For your free download go to blue cross MA dot com slash goal getter good afternoon buster Oreo. I carry out. Great good to hear from. We're just wondering if if it's possible dice -- gonna have to give up his numbered Johnny Damon.

You know -- About that last night in an -- there's no chance that you would do that.

Yes he probably would lead you do you think buster that. That Johnny Damon is gonna return to the Red --

I still and I say that purely speculating a you know I thought I think what you guys did in a before and after the tigers game last night which I -- seem fairly skeptical about it. But you know knowing what it is in knowing -- 82. Good guy genial guy at once you -- get the text messages in the phone calls from people they play within bought and and it and I think -- I think he'll be sold on the idea eventually out going back to Boston. And you know it's fairly clear that. Yes and -- hurt feelings over how it ended when he signed with the Yankees. But I think the wanting it probably those guys gonna tell them is that locked. -- come back he gets in the batter's box for the first time let's say -- Friday night and it Tampa Bay hollow threat that's answer in the trop. They're gonna get an innovation and multiple web page Ed and we don't it still at. No matter when he comes back you know a reunion in 2014. And in Boston are all about Johnny Damon for our port what does that mean. -- thousand or so. I think he'd that he can be talked into that might be completely wrong but that's like that the.

In your opinion buster how much of this move by the Red Sox was because they really wanted Johnny Damon. How much of his solve it was like the giants ending up with Cody Ross is they didn't want to go to San Diego and the Red Sox wanted to keep him out of Tampa.

6040. Because they can use them and they're they're trying. If you everything neat and within their power to get back into the race. While not giving up super top of the line prospects and 40% keeping him out of it -- the.

How much does he have left in your opinion.

Oh he basically it's funny -- that it numbers again last night his on base percentage is basically the same you know. He's hitting the same number of home runs that he was hitting and irritating before he went into new Yankee Stadium last I think gently last year was the operation. Is still can't keep up -- that silly cheap -- accuse 75 to eighty. You'll have stretches where -- ball games and he's certainly someone who's gonna help it had seen whether it be to -- the --

Do you think that. Manny Ramirez is gonna have a similar fate and by the way I don't think the Red Sox who put in a claim for him but where Willie and.

I think it's -- it's going to beat Chicago white -- they're one of the teams that reached out the Dodgers. With the trade deadline. They certainly have a new. There are a little bit like the red dot now where they're in the race sort of but they're not in it really that close. And the question is going to be internally. Will they be willing to take on the money -- now it's a little bit like -- used -- situation where you got you know one quarter out of paid -- later. Is so much deferred money in his contract that out of four point four million dollars any. In -- from now at the end of the year if you're picking requiring him -- cost one point one million dollars. But the rest of this year and any -- that 3.3 million dollars deferred. So the debate for the White Sox or other. Is -- is five weeks to Manny Ramirez worked that now I -- to -- get rule waivers and I don't think the Yankees in a claimant. I'm just guessing I don't think the red -- a claim to -- get through waivers I think you'll finish. August in. In uniform and at the bit rate because I think it would be aggressive so long that they -- nit -- salary.

O buster everybody in Boston knows what Manny is capable -- capable of in a month or or or even a three month stretch to but he did 2008 as this ridiculous OPS off the charts. What does he have that left in them especially. After we know I -- at some performance enhancing drugs.

You guys. You know the Dodgers are clearly frustrated with -- need to not be within an organization they're fed up and the same way and in. The same reason that you heard from people within the Red Sox organization in 2008. And they're ready to move him out but there's no question when he played yet he has the world or on base percentage he got a slugging percentage over 500. He's still a threat you know that -- to walk up to the plate. In the postseason opposing managers opposing pitchers -- absolutely -- And I don't use any question that he would make it at the bit rate -- is the other factor to. It may any imported let's say he didn't plane for the rest this year he'd be looking at a contract next you probably. There's something -- opera at 800000 dollar base with some incentives. It's he had a great month for his next team whether the White Sox with a raid. And I think he'd probably be -- 45 million dollars next year so there's a lot at stake. And it sure that that would be part of evaluation for the rays to the white dots to whichever team worked at a.

We're talking to -- only of ESPN help me with the waiver process here because. Normally a lot of players are put through waivers in the month of August most of them clear. And and and if Johnny Damon were put through waivers cleared waivers nobody took him. He'd that is not able.

Yet. According there at -- particular type language. If you. Yet in the contract and I'm assuming because represented by Scott -- he'd probably at this and -- but he was might I add that very question last week in my understanding what yet Andy and Johnny Damon -- the capability of blocking. --

Does this have to do with the assign ability. All of the no trade clause in their contracts do you think.

I did not get that right exactly that that's exactly what it it's that -- in the question you know the contract that. -- get it right on the --

Buster I'd love to get your take -- debated this the last few weeks and in few months. -- to get your take on the Jacoby Ellsbury situation. With the Red Sox in what is future is with the team if there is in the future with the team.

Well you know I kind of like it situation to what the rate -- gone through in the last couple years BJ Upton where. You know that the Red Sox better than anybody understand which -- yelled -- is capable -- and so if you know they felt like. Look you got hurt a lot this year we know this stuff that was said by teammates. There might be -- bad feelings there. But it sort of put that on the market. They probably wouldn't get anything close to what. They would proceed to be is value in return. In this same -- the last couple years went in a debate. Is that problems BJ up and they've gotten calls repeatedly from other organizations to set local media a couple of sports writers have baguette into orbit you lot of -- them. And the rate to basically said you know what we're not gonna sell low on this -- knowing how much talent as so my guess is Indiana Red Sox went. It's -- don't think anyone's gonna give them anything close to what they perceive to be is.

Which sports writers -- about it at. And would any of them be worth that a deal.

Absolutely now that appeared to be worth more than the sports writers like me I know the.

Question here for me becomes are the Red Sox still in this thing. And I made the point to Michael I think next Monday as one we're gonna know if they're out of it or if they have the possibility of hanging with a based on your opinion what the number stated say today on August 24 the day out of it.

I don't think they're a -- but I think they're hanging by its red and I agree media I mean let's face it the way that the schedule. -- back -- chasing probably two best teams in baseball. Mean that they have to be serious damage whenever they go head to head against the rays and yankees for the rest of Europe that margin for -- is found in L. If they go to the Tampa Bay and they get swept it's over it's it was two out of three it's probably over. They have to do gaining ground every time they played as to.

You know buster I understand you're talking to people in baseball. All the time so it's wanna get. Your take from what you see and and from what you hear. On a couple of Red Sox pitcher to start the good the good stuff Clay Buchholz but your take on him.

Well I think it's funny because -- Lot of questions about image in other organizations. And the economy are right -- let reflect what. -- you'd be able to. You know work through difficult situation they saw like everybody else -- that -- that hesitancy when he was start thrown the first -- economic Ellie wasn't quite sure what he wanted to throw. And it stuck with -- advance they'll last week and he said -- seen so much more short himself now that he ever did the past. And you know he doesn't let that -- that that he had in the past and I think that's really changed -- I think he's in the science conversation. I I you know going into the week and that would have put Cliff Lee right near the top election and -- right in the top I think. That's in -- that he lowered its ERA let's close -- those guys completely -- that he makes great case for himself.

How about the last two pitchers at the Red Sox have signed to long contracts and and in those guys are our John Lackey and Josh Beckett. Not really sure why why both pitchers have underperformed especially. Josh Beckett what do you think about them.

I've heard from people would and other organizations that they think the back in those contracts have achieved via. They talked about. It basically have questions about whether -- not lackeys. Wants depictions strikes them as much used dude it's comparable. If he feels like he has much fastball and certainly if they watched it last night. That might have been the best best -- yet the entire season. And with Beckett is the question consistency it's been awhile since we've seen you know the dominant Josh Beckett. And so when you talk about not seen that investing in these who died seventeen million dollars a year for that you know for the foreseeable future. There's no question it's kinda hanging in the balance now as to whether or not these deals in the works for Boston against the.

If you -- the general manager of the Washington Nationals would Stephen strasburg throw another pitch for you this year.

If there's anything and it MRI. Despite ethnic doing absolutely not now I'm sure you've heard -- able is that -- out there. Or at the national basically came out -- this morning and said you know he's got it through -- got to go crazy. You know -- kind of -- wimp I'd not to stick in the ball and going -- pitching. Is that thank. Usually when teams -- IS. That's usually too and I don't know specifically what they're looking for but usually it's to check on the integrity of the ligament and and that obviously a huge concern. He's really important and absolutely protect -- as much as possible.

And -- buster gonna ask you one more question because. As many problems. As people had put their in laws haven't heard. Of many baseball players who have who have gone after their girlfriend's father of their father in law whatever the description is with the Frankie Rodriguez for -- Rodriguez. What you think the real story is there and now what his future in the game.

Well I think a lot of guys feature in the game and Bill Bradley would be an example that. You know it feature in the game is gonna be directly tied to how effective is on the field. You know at -- was actually pitching very well before any this happened. And it becomes back in the spring and I think the -- ever really difficult time trading him. In the -- aid because they need a closer and beat because it's like we talked about which Pope -- very that people aren't gonna give anything close to what they're gonna need. In return to actually steal them. But it becomes back next spring -- states and games I think he's gonna be forgiven and everyone's gonna move -- greatly that now we've seen it time and time and you know Brett Myers. Wil Cordero right on down the line if you can play. Domestic violence and not people are gonna keep you which can't.

Buster we always appreciate the time in love talking baseball with you thank you very much. We'll -- to let her take care that is up buster only from ESPN. Joining us on the AT&T hot -- find out what's possible with the nation's fastest mobile broadband network AT&T. -- think possible.