He only has a matter of weeks to sign before spring training begins. I'm sure his workouts are more meaningful than a few split squad games against a few Scott Ericksons and Ed Yarnalls but it'll still be pretty odd if he's not on a team before that.
With no basis for this I have a hunch Manny could sign tomorrow for a non embarrassing figure, but he's going to wait it out because at this point I don't think it's going to hurt him any longer. It may hurt, and I'll presume it has hurt other players though i.e. Bobby Abreu. Manny was going to set the marketplace for all hit no glove left fielders, and his waiting has led to two things.
1) Teams who signed all hit no field players before Manny probably overspent. Raul Ibanez got a 3 year deal because he was the first to sign before teams waited this one out. If the Phillies waited until now, would ANYONE have signed Ibanez? I doubt it. Pat Burrel also signed for a 2 year deal, and although that's not really overpaying it is when you compare it to...
2) Bobby Abreu, who has gotten F*cked. He wanted a 3 year deal and now he's looking at a one year deal. Yea Burrell isn't ripoff, far from it, but if the Rays waited Burrell and Abreu could have been options for just one year. If you signed early you basically got a pretty good deal, if you haven't well you are looking to play for one year to help your stock in hopes the economic climate is better this time next year. Adam Dunn is also waiting, and he's better than Burrell and Abreu, and easily Ibanez.
My loyal readers have voted, all 4 of them, and 3/4 said Manny will go to LA, 1/4 said the Yankees. I'm still sticking to my post, he's going to San Fran. I could try to keep track of all the Manny rumors but at this point they're so volatile it's useless. When he signs I will comment.
One last bit about Abreu. Today on Mike'd Up, I caught Franseca talking about Abreu. He said he's a decent outfielder, with a good arm, and that he's deathly afraid of the wall. While I agree his arm is good and he's afraid of the wall, at this point we should stop sugar coating his fielding, it's horrid. How could you also say that he's afraid of the wall but a decent fielder? He's a DH.
He then went on to say that basically Abreu is a .300 avg .400 obp 100 runs and 100 rbi player every year. When the Yankees obtained Abreu that was the player he was, and he was probably one of the more underrated players in baseball having walked 100+ times 8 straight years from 1999-2006. Abreu has changed now and I'd say he's among the more overrated players, he's a .290 .370 onbase guy with the reputation of a .310/.420 guy. He's still a solid hitter but while the announcers still talk about him as a great player, surprised by the fact he's still available, the general managers have realized his downward trend. To give him credit, Mike did say he's not going to lead your lineup, but I cringed at the fact he said he's an auto 100 runs and rbi. If the Nationals sign Abreu, can they pencil him in for 100 rbi? Damon and Jeter hitting ahead of him on base about 37% of the time, with the greatest hitter in the AL behind him have nothing to do with his counting stats?
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