Let Manny be Manny... in Flushing

Yup. You heard (read) right. Bring Manny Ramirez to the Mets. Yes I know that Manny can drive a team nuts by just being Manny but the Mets need an infusion of energy. This Mets team has been eliminated on the last day of the regular season 2 years straight. In 2007 they couldn't get the big hit. In 2008 they couldn't hold a lead, any lead. So while bringing Manny to New York would not solve all the Mets problems, it would be a nice start. Omar Minaya has to justify his own contract extension by rebuilding the Mets bullpen. We know that. There are a few relievers that Minaya has his eye on, but bringing Manny to New York will kick-start the Mets quest for their first championship since 1986.

Now dealing with Ramirez will not be easy. But if the Chicago Bulls could deal with Dennis Rodman and win 3 NBA titles with him, anything is possible. I do understand that the Mets don't have a Michael Jordan-like player to keep Manny in line, but I think you get my point. Just so you know, I do know that the Dodgers want to keep Ramirez. They made him an offer this week that would give Ramirez the second highest average salary in baseball behind Alex Rodriguez. A-Rod currently averages 27.5 million dollars per year while Johan Santana averages 22.9 million dollars. So Manny's offer was somewhere in between those two numbers. Probably about 25 million per year, for 2 or 3 years. But if you are the Mets, you might be able to get him if you offer him a longer contract. Manny is 36 now, he'll be 37 next May. His agent Scott Boras is said to be asking for 6 years. Simple math says he'll be 42 at the end of that contract. Barry Bonds played into his 40's... Ok, he might have been chemically aided but it's definitely possible. So the Mets would definitely have to roll the dice. Can you get 6 good years out of Manny? Can Manny continue to perform at a high level while not annoying his teammates or management like he did at the end in Boston? I honestly do not have the answers to those questions. That's why I say the Mets will have to roll the dice. I think it's a risk worth taking. Ramirez' bat in the lineup would take pressure off Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado, and David Wright. Especially Wright, who has great numbers but comes up small in the clutch. I would give Manny 5 years with a club option for a 6th. That's probably the way to get him to Flushing. Plus you will have to overpay to beat the Dodger offer. But again, its worth it. You might bring a World Series title to Citi Field.