Mon Dec 22, 2008 11:31 am EST
Manny to the Yanks may not be close, but it may be inevitable
By 'Duk
Just when you thought it was safe to spike the egg nog and "string some popcorn with Ms. Claus" comes this Impacto Deportivo report that Manny Ramirez is in advanced negotiations with the New York Yankees and will sign a three-year, $75 million deal Monday or Tuesday.
OK, before we start setting fires and smashing windows, it's worth noting that Yankees GM Brian Cashman has already shot down the report from the Dominican Republic newspaper on MLB.com.
The outlet's track record is also far from sterling, says MLB Trade Rumors and we haven't heard a peep from Scott Boras (though he's probably still busy waving the conductor's baton on the Mark Teixeira sweepstakes)
Indeed, the blogosphere consensus seems to be that Impacto Deportivo is full of it, though they're not expecting anything that Manny isn't, the NYDN reports.
Where this puts all of us, I'm not exactly sure. I seriously doubt a Manny Ramirez signing — especially in the Bronx — would come together this quickly or this stealthily. I also buy the prevalent thought that Boras won't let Manny do anything until Teixeira is wrapped up and placed under someone's tree.
Still, it wouldn't surprise me if Manny ended up taking his spring training in Tampa in a few months. Ditto for him being the type of guy to leak a few news items back home before anyone here in the States got anything. Stay tuned, Santas.