Buster Olney, ESPN MLB beat

The baseball winner meetings take place. Begin this weekend don't they have Friday I have my dates frighten all next week it is in all of the big deal of the of the baseball offseason but there are some thoughts out there that both for they convened for the baseball winter meetings some major doings could go down and one of the things that is theoretically possible -- their based on the things we've -- the possibility that Manny Ramirez could be traded even before the weekend. Joining us on the line right now is may be the best baseball insider in the United States of America and a guy who's been on the program on a number of occasions in the past buster only basra -- Michael how aria.

They guys entrapment had a welcome back. I appreciate it it's good to have you back buster happy thanksgiving to you late by the way you you guys still in the it there are still just never slowed down it's not gonna float down.

And and speaking of hot stove you mentioned or you wrote about Manny Ramirez and the possibility of him being moved to several teams what's the latest on Manny and will he be moved within the next week.

on the by the -- yes based and one I was hearing especially yesterday from different people with other teams were talking the Red Sox from. Of people within a -- that's organization that feeling is that you know that they are are motivated right now I'm open and it it could be side of the fact that. You know they're very close to sound like -- is waiting that for the data passed on Saturday before they you know finally finished the JD drew thing Baird apparently getting very close to finishing Julio Lugo thing at shortstop and may be with those guys being added to their lineup they feel like they have enough depth. Where they're going to feel comfortable to move out Manny and there's no question of Manny being Manny it would be a big factor in -- because. Whatever package they get you know -- the dodgers' offer and I think there's no question the Dodgers have the most offer you know big factor in his opening effective anti. As and is in no he has been a giant distraction of the thing.

Many great point and in your online blog when you said we probably only know the tip of the ice about Manny being Manny and I couldn't agree with you more I think the fact that. Within the organization they feel like he quit on them this year which leads me to believe that with in the clubhouse they felt that he quit on

I would agree that. I mean -- the nearest situation and I can't compare what the reds that have with would Manny Ramirez when I was covering the Padres in 93 and they're trying to trade Gary Sheffield during the fire sale. And you know every day going to -- for the manager and just like Terry Francona does with a Red Sox. If Jim -- men at that time just with say nice things about Gary and Bulgaria you know he's a great hitter and lovable and then as soon is Gary was traded. All of a sudden you start hearing these stories about how miserable it was an -- all the other players couldn't stand him and I suspect that there's going to be a lot of that you know if Manny straight at the end I think they're a lot of people in the organization. Very unhappy with Manny that they've never gone to war with and they've never taken a public because. They know given -- personality probably not going to lead anything good self and maybe that that's why we're seeing is much conversation with a red that we're saying because they have reached that decision internally that you know what. Which is going to be better off without this kind of team especially when he's not what the united anymore you know these 34 years old going on 35 and if they think -- you know has problems with a knee jerk he is not to -- is available -- what in the past that's going to be their problem that --

Buster you wrote the following on espn.com Boston we'll have to come to grips with the idea that they will not give back major league talent equal to that of Ramirez rather. They might have to settle for deal much like the Gary Sheffield trade Yankees made early November so that the question is. From a scale of one to ten how did the Yankees make out that treated me is that talent is that English talent they got from Detroit or is that just some young kids that might make it

you know I think 88 the Yankees got guys who can help them in the big leagues at some point that's what they believe I I don't think any of those guys are going to be superstars and I don't think there's any chance that if that say the they were to make a deal with the Dodgers that anyone that they necessarily get from the Dodgers is going to be superstar either right now you know before the August 31 deadline they talked a lot about the with a dodge that came -- their first baseman. Who's a good prospect he's not a superstar prospect. And it would not surprise me that if they were to reach an agreement on Manny with the Dodgers came -- would be handed -- and maybe animal rose to third baseman though they're very respected prospects or they don't -- young. No and there's certainly that the change in in the past one week you know we heard about Manny trade taught we -- And you hear that the top prospects for the angels or maybe you know A-Rod when they -- tight but that that's not the type deal they gonna get if they trade Manny.

Dusty made a great comment sump into the effective Manny Ramirez has great production and his production is is equaled by his great melodrama like that do you think. The melodrama outweighed the production for the Red Sox.

You know -- it really the best person ethic I think the Red Sox did the keep they keep people that they know what goes on there you know they don't Terry Francona knows how much garbage that he has to swallow our behalf -- Manny Ramirez -- know what they know you know about how many times Manny can't come to them with a complainer talked about being traded. And and I and I am going to be curious when -- out to keep your from people within the Red Sox organization because they're not going to tell you now. You know it does them no good now they air their dirty laundry well win it all said and done to find out exactly how much you distraction he was. Let's face it if they traded it's gotta be significant get sick guy every year drives in on Iran's going to be that much of a problem you know that tells you. How how much you know how much how important added to the Red Sox given and now what is production it and I if they -- want -- trading him you know I wouldn't -- because whatever reason they -- like -- probably pretty good wants.

I'll tell you what worries me and one I'd bet keeps Theo Epstein up at night. That he's gonna go to all the trouble he's gonna he's gonna work the phones he's going to make all the deals he's gonna he's gonna come up with a package and you when I both know buster it is very likely that the guy with ten and five rights is going to say now nevermind.

No question and his agent is a wildcard this thing Greg Ganske you know he doesn't have as much experience a lot of other agents. He has not been paid for many contract the guys get paid Geoffrey Moore had from any contract -- this is an opportunity to get paid and -- in may try to extract things that you know whether the Dodgers -- the Rangers they'll say no and on the other aspect utilities tonight I'm sure that they've wade they've played all without it they consider doing that. No matter what happens you know -- assuming that they finished the thing with JD drew and assuming that they would trade Manny Ramirez no matter whether they hit J. D. Drew fourth fifth sixth or ninth. The expectation in Boston he's going to be needed JD drew effectively needs to replace Manny Ramirez's offense and that is -- heavy load for qaeda Barrett who when you talk to people around baseball built like very good Barrett look like that.

Sort like Jose offerman replacing -- production and it doesn't work that way but given given them the silly numbers that were seen throughout this hot stove season. Heck not only is he gonna get the two years -- the option picked up if the agrees to this deal he might be able to negotiate an extension.

Well yeah you know I wonder about that and I think it's and that's the kind of thing that you want to about me we know many need to be all over the map on this stuff. They were married last week feel -- seat belt aren't disorderly get that get a 136 million dollars man he's driven and are under more runs in 11 the last 12 years. Could anyone doubt it is a chance -- it was agents say. You know I'm guaranteed 38 million dollars what happened you can't get it five year deal for another hundred million dollars. And -- course if it -- came up in any conversation with any teams that would be the end of it and between that they forget that we're not gonna trade this guy. So I completely agree would you -- The tunnel you know if they get ideally like from the Dodgers to the Padres -- the Rangers that's going to be the X factor that's going to be to rent six deplete completely bogus thing up.

Now it's funny buster when you see these contracts being given arguments and Soriano Gary Matthews junior is another one may be -- Pierre. You say a market correction is coming but that's down the road right now why is -- market so incorrect.

Because there's so much money in the games Albion one handy you know it's a really great sign on the other hand some of the money I mean people last night when. They found -- that Adam Eaton -- never won more than 11 games in his career at 24 million dollars in the Philly they were just flabbergasted it's like every day. You know worse contract becomes the most egregious offense of the offseason you everyday there's a new one the best story can tell about that I wrote about this little bit last week during the general managers meetings down in Naples spot you pay the number two guy in baseball stood up front of the general managers and -- cautionary tale about -- the money being that was people were speculating on being spent. And he brought up the car on the Peter gammons wrote for ESPN on October 22 which Peter said the game was quote unquote awash in money in occupy a challenge that and you know that's not quite the case since. You know you can still make stupid deals to just be careful out there a couple Guillen said to make. He's kind of like the parents handing over the car keys to a teenager and giving in this speech before he had that they are well you know let's face it after that speeches over all the teams went out and they started doing donuts all over the financial parking lot. I and they going crazy and and what's interesting is that I'm kinda curious to see the Yankees have not been involved in this. And I wonder I was going to write up a little bit about this for tomorrow you know base clearly made a lot of mistakes in 20022003 with the money. What they did with Bobby bray would I think it might become the model for how the Yankees -- they're going to let other people invested in these huge contracts and they sit there as the most powerful financial even baseball. And his flock in choose one other teams start to unload these big contracts. The other guys who can absorb all the contract -- if you lasts isn't about being brave deal in here the last two years say to stop government had to. Alfonso Soriano deal and you want to get rid of -- the Yankees can fit that they won't take that one will take that one will take that one and you know I wondered if maybe that's something Red Sox you know might be in a position -- two or three years if they take the same approach.

Isn't a 51 point one million dollar posting feet further evidence that the game is awash in money.

Absolutely but I will say this -- you know I I could I've criticized the -- a lot in the last year. You know for not putting up the extra money Johnny Damon you know their decision not to to pick up -- she's seven million dollars it would take him to get Bobby -- at the trade deadline. He's an enormous mistake right now. That all being that now that the Red Sox to come out and -- their financial -- I think that's what they should do you know they've got the quality they make a lot of quality they should -- competitive that they is they can and if they feel like that's something they can spend to get a very unique saying that the 26 year old free agent pitcher like much is docket that's exactly what they should do.

If this were the offseason of 2005 the Red Sox with their front office structure it would have four different bids for -- to soccer because they have so many people running the show. I did you get Fed buster that they are all on board with this is that deals -- no question about it.

I think if they feel like probably after ended they've they've got to look at its summit think they've gone on the braves thing that -- things think boy we made some mistakes there's no reason why the reds that cannot you know can't go -- peril up as a want -- They're developing their farm system taking chances on guys with Daniel bard in -- in the draft you know high ceiling talent like -- They can do all that and also spend money on free agency that they don't Yankees are uniquely in a position to do that. And they don't have to be the Minnesota Twins they don't have to be the Oakland Athletics and just strictly rely on the farm system that's what the people with -- other teams were surprised that the Red Sox. Really took that approach -- last year they could have had Johnny Damon and they -- kept Andy marte to be the third baseman of the future and I hate to surprise that of people that they haven't done it now it seems like that's about the going down -- say it's the right pat.

You what you mentioned that the Julio Lugo deal I think to the what you -- it was -- on the five yard line right now given that's the case and quite honestly -- never understood their fascination with this particular player but they have it. Is this an appreciable league better person to have playing shortstop but the best defensive shortstop -- my Red Sox lifetime -- watched your last year.

All in all overall I think yes because you know I know Lugo is terrible the Dodgers in the Dodgers people which is astonished at how bad he was the them. But you know it is a guy who's played the American league east. And he you know is that he's not a great short stay nine close to what Gonzales is defensively overall he's a really nice player they -- get some base and the biggest thing that you hear about with him and I is something that the reds -- lack lack last year was he would say high energy player and you've talked the Devil -- Lou Piniella who loved this guy that that every day you know you hear that. He has some guys would be dragging their feet when they'd come in in this guy would light him up in self respect maybe he'll give them a little bit of what they lost when Johnny Damon walked out the door.

We talked about it before earlier in our our discussion about JD drew. When you look at JD drew buster and you look at Trot Nixon you put them on a split screen what's the biggest difference between these guys.

He -- J. D. Drew until they've tried that well there's no question eight. -- J. D. Drew the guy if you run it may be EP played -- 140 games he's going to do a lot more damage than Trot Nixon at this especially this stages great get on base more. He hits for more extra base hit and on paper he's an incredible player I cannot find one person in baseball that I talked to in the last week who does not think that did JD drew in Boston is a horrible matchup. Win what Kenny Rogers -- Yankees before the 96 -- and everybody in baseball but it was going to be disaster and guess what it was they just don't think that he may. -- best situation would be to go to the red dot as a complementary players say that the other third or fourth offensive player and it seemed. He batted sixth seventh you're not really relying on them if he's in a position where you have to rely on the topic he got to happen out there under 45 games here he's probably going to disappoint you and you know what for 13 of 14 million dollars year whatever the final numbers -- contract. That's what you would expect that he would be a guy can rely on and that's the biggest question people have about.

And you write a lot of people that said the bottom that he's not a good fit for Boston is -- buster that he has he doesn't have the personality reported -- soft spoken guy who doesn't take criticism well or is it just the appearance that he's not trying hard that is not a good match for northeastern city.

I'd ever ever ever really spent that much time around them but I can tell -- that people who played -- look two yeah you guys heard the nickname that the other Dodgers had formally Nancy drew that'd be the guy who couldn't be relied on in the big spot. That in if he had any injuries that you know maybe to play through or maybe wouldn't -- throw most of time he would not play throw it. And that is a feeling that he's been in a pervasive in not just the dodger organization but he's played with a lot of different intent. -- you'd have to ask yourself the question a guy who gets on base that much it's that kind of power he's that good of an outfielder who can run yet at decent base runner can be so many things well control. Why is it that it bounces from team to team to team you know including seems like the braves we have a guy like poppycock you've managed by Bobby Cox -- might. The cardinals with Tony la -- they couldn't stand having him there you know I think Grady little is a good baseball guy despite the decision he made the playoffs in 2003 the fact that Yankees that's only issue selling place really makes you wonder about.

of that man who would be the closer for the Red Sox on opening day

oh boy. If it is right now I would say that the fallback position going to be Mike Timlin to -- think he's going to be the -- in the and that I'll put that in the is sort of like the plant's -- If I -- you know this is total speculation on my -- this -- market hasn't really played itself out would not be surprised if Eric on his with a Red Sox -- and it it get a -- actually going to spend this kind of money are in the you know JD drew -- going to make these much -- doctor. You might it will go out there are and try to -- the biggest free agent closer at the that the -- most experience he is big gamble because it is helping issues. But you know that he's not afraid to take in the all the ninth inning and another guy represent about cup horse will see our place.

He's willing I just wonder if he's able to take the ball in the ninth inning.

Well and that that's the gamble but again if you're gonna spend this kind of money in other parts and you if you leave it you leave the bullpen where you have such an unsettled situation. That's a pretty big gamble that taken and then not ACC in the relievers coming up the board the free agent market they're not other great solution that they have for them to get he might be the best solution because at least you know it's not a leap of faith pitcher given a ball in the ball on the ninth inning what -- not going to be afraid of that situation.

a feeling you're going to be very busy at the winner meetings. Are we have to say is busy are ready hurt somebody try to call and what are your on the air with us.

Buster we always appreciate talking baseball with -- thank you so much