Parallel Universe

Let's say we didn't read media reports out of Boston or listen to Curt Schilling's whining. Let's see then, how else me might determine why the Red Sox would trade Manny Ramirez for Jason Bay. Further, let's assume everyone is rational.

Ramirez is 35, and Boston can pay him $20 million a year if they keep him. If not, they get two draft picks in the offseason. Boston is in a win-now situation, and since the Yankees will be bidding for all the good free agents this offseason and the Rays have built a good club, Boston needs to hold onto their core. But this part of their core is aging and is at risk to be injured and have his performance decline.

To replace him in that position, they would be looking at someone who could stay there for a long time. This would be someone younger who projects to have a longer career, maybe a power/speed guy, maybe someone who can be really good defensively. Jason Bay would fit that description nicely, and he's already locked into a contract where he would make less than half of what Manny would make as he reaches his prime.

Pittsburgh is not going to take Manny for Bay, because they don't have that kind of money. Besides, Pittsburgh isn't ready to contend; they still need a pitching staff and could stand to bolster their lineup a bit. A rental of Manny Ramirez would not help them in the postseason, or even to be a winning ballclub. So, thanks, but no thanks. Pittsburgh wants to do what Baltimore did, get 4 or 5 young players for one star player.

Boston does not want to trade their top young players, but they're willing to give up a left fielder for a left fielder. Pittsburgh will not be satisfied with the young players Boston can deliver, so they need someone to take Ramirez. Enter the Dodgers.

Ned Colletti knows what he's doing - LaRoche has been injured and it would be too risky to expose the extent of the damage from that injury, even though his 2008 minor league numbers lack the power he showed the previous two seasons. Sunk costs as they are, Colletti wanted to sell LaRoche as high as possible, and at the same time, he knew that Frank McCourt would throw him out on his ass if he didn't land someone good. This deal comes across to him and naturally it looks like a no-brainer. A guy who's had shoulder and hand injuries possibly destroy his shot at being a good hitting 3rd baseman for a shot at getting to the postseason with one of the best hitters in the game. Naturally, he pulled the trigger, and made the boss man even happier by all the extra revenue that comes in thanks to the new superstar. In his position, he even insists that Boston chips in $7 million to pay for the rest of 2008 for Manny. No problem, says Boston, because they'll save $11 million next year by having Bay instead.

Makes sense for everyone. But what about those media reports? Well, Boston had to see it coming, and they like to burn players as they leave, but then again, so do the Braves. It makes it easier for the fans to swallow. Also, reporters like to sell the gossip stories, because those sell papers. And that's just the way the Boston media does things. But the media storyline is probably just a cover for what was actually going on - Boston and Pittsburgh made moves for the long term, and LA made the best move they could, which does nothing in the long term, but a lot in the short term.