Sir Albert wants Manny in St. Louis

[WMR]

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic -- Albert Pujols is encouraging the St. Louis Cardinals to sign Manny Ramirez.

The Cardinals slugger, who won his second NL MVP award in November, acknowledged the team might not have enough money to land the free-agent outfielder

"I speak with Manny every three days and he tells me, 'Man, no one wants to sign me,' Pujols said today during a news conference. "I'm not an agent or general manager, but I can't understand how Manny has not signed."

Pujols passed along Ramirez's telephone number to St. Louis manager Tony La Russa.

"Maybe St. Louis doesn't have the money to sign him, but he could give them a discount because St. Louis is a great city that supports its players," Pujols said.

[RollyInRaleigh]

That would not be good.

[Always Red]

"I'm not an agent or general manager, but I can't understand how Manny has not signed."

Pujols passed along Ramirez's telephone number to St. Louis manager Tony La Russa.

"Maybe St. Louis doesn't have the money to sign him, but he could give them a discount because St. Louis is a great city that supports its players," Pujols said.

I find this to be hilarious.

Manny is holding out because he wants a premium; 4 years and 100 million, per Rosenthal and others. He and Boras are currently playing a staredown game with the Dodgers, who apparently only want him for 2 years at that price.

Why on earth would he give the Cardinals a discount, and are the Cards fans that much better than the Red Sox fans?

[RollyInRaleigh]

Georgie would be "Giddy."

[WMR]

I find this to be hilarious.

Manny is holding out because he wants a premium; 4 years and 100 million, per Rosenthal and others. He and Boras are currently playing a staredown game with the Dodgers, who apparently only want him for 2 years at that price.

Why on earth would he give the Cardinals a discount, and are the Cards fans that much better than the Red Sox fans?

Yeah it is funny. Ballplayer logic.

Randy's right, though... can you imagine Albert-Manny 3/4 for St. Louis?

[Sea Ray]

I don't see Boras and Manny giving a discount to anyone. They just don't seem like the type and they've given no indication of such

[blumj]

I find this to be hilarious.

Manny is holding out because he wants a premium; 4 years and 100 million, per Rosenthal and others. He and Boras are currently playing a staredown game with the Dodgers, who apparently only want him for 2 years at that price.

Why on earth would he give the Cardinals a discount, and are the Cards fans that much better than the Red Sox fans?

Red Sox fans probably pull a lot more "Beatlemania"-type nonsense. But Manny + discount = ridiculous.

[REDREAD]

Why on earth would he give the Cardinals a discount, and are the Cards fans that much better than the Red Sox fans?

Not the fans' fault, but the Red Sox did a pretty good smear job on Manny before they traded him. I think if you asked Manny about it, he would probably say that St Louis is a better baseball town than Boston (from Manny's point of view).

That said, I don't see Manny giving a discount to anyone. Last time he was a FA, he played Cleveland and Boston against each other for the maximum $$. IIRC, Cleveland's offer was only slightly less.

[Roy Tucker]

That would not be good.

I concur. We're talking Ruth and Gehrig.

[Sea Ray]

Not the fans' fault, but the Red Sox did a pretty good smear job on Manny before they traded him.

I don't know that I'd call it a smear job because Manny did quit on them and for that they do have a right to be awfully mad. If it was unwarranted I'd agree with the term smear. He refused to play and when sent up to pinch hit he struck out without ever taking the bat off his shoulder.

[redsbuckeye]

Wow, that would be.....frightening.

[redsmetz]

Why on earth would he give the Cardinals a discount, and are the Cards fans that much better than the Red Sox fans?

I can't say whether he would give them a discount or not, but I can say this, St. Louis fans put us to great shame. They pack that place and they are loud; not obnoxious, but very loud. It's what I recall Cincinnati fans used to be. Given that they're not rude like Cubbie fans or crazy like some of the other teams' fans, I would imagine it would be great fun to play there. It's what the Reds should be aiming to restore.

[Unassisted]

That would not be good.

Wow, that would be.....frightening.

Manny's a double-edged sword. Don't forget the potentially cancerous, me-first side of him. If he doesn't click with LaRussa or his teammates, adding him to the STL clubhouse could be a real plus for the rest of the division. Plus there's the opportunity cost of committing a bunch of the budget to him.

[OnBaseMachine]

The Cardinals have already said their not interested in Manny.

I don't like the Cardinals but that would be incredible to watch.

[redsbuckeye]

Manny's a double-edged sword. Don't forget the potentially cancerous, me-first side of him. If he doesn't click with LaRussa or his teammates, adding him to the STL clubhouse could be a real plus for the rest of the division. Plus there's the opportunity cost of committing a bunch of the budget to him.

IMO one edge of that sword is a lot sharper than the other.