By Dejan Kovacevic | 9:32 a.m. Thursday
Here we go again ...
Heard this morning that the Pirates consider themselves open-minded on both fronts, the Boston-Florida one as well as Tampa, and that there is no deal, tentative or otherwise, in either direction.
Also, the Boston-Florida package, as I heard originally but shifted last night, would involve John Grabow going to the Marlins rather than the Red Sox. If so, that would muddy up pretty much every other scenario to date. And never mind the many complications related to Manny Ramirez's contract: If he accepts the trade, for example, does Boston help pick up some of his $20 million club option next year to get Florida another year? Or do Ramirez and the Marlins agree in advance that he will reject salary arbitration this fall so that the Marlins can be guaranteed two compensation draft picks?
There are ample reasons why doubt remains that this will get done. And, if it does, it could be at 3:59 p.m.
UPDATE 9:41 a.m.: ESPN's Jayson Stark quotes a source as saying the Pirates-Boston-Florida deal has a "50-50" chance. He also brings Ryan Tucker back into play, which surely will help things on the Pirates' end.
9:55 a.m.: When one looks at this from the Tampa perspective, it is easy to see how the Rays might feel some additional pressure to part with one of those golden prospects and get this done with the Pirates: The Rays, Red Sox and Yankees are in a tight race. If the Red Sox get what they want (Bay), that is not good for the Rays for that reason alone. The Tampa link there is the first I have heard of Reid Brignac being in the untouchable category, by the way.
10:53 a.m.: Just got off the phone with a couple people -- non-Pirates -- and there seems to be this growing sense that it is the Pirates really dictating this process. There are too many teams and too many moving parts to imagine that they are outright playing one deal off the other, but they probably are as close as they can be to doing exactly that. The Pirates' thinking, according to one, is that they want two high-end types and one or two others, depending which direction they turn. Obviously, giving up Grabow makes for the higher number.
12:29 p.m.: Pirates still holed up. Not taking calls, emails, anything. That is typical a few hours before the deadline under any circumstance, but especially so with one as expansive as this. On the other hand, I have not heard anything to suggest anything is off, either.
12:34 p.m.: There is this: Manny Ramirez has approved a trade to Florida, as he strongly suggested he would yesterday. Now, it comes down to the whole rest of the deal and whether or not the Pirates remain in it. Remember, Ramirez agreeing to go to the Marlins does not mean the Pirates have to be part of this.
12:42 p.m.: Just heard Ronny Paulino's name ... for the first time in a while. Florida is looking for a catcher, and Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez was jokingly referring to Paulino as "Babe Ruth" when he faces their team on their last visit to Pittsburgh. Thing is, Paulino has missed nearly a month to that ankle injury in Indianapolis and has yet to rejoin that lineup.
12:51 p.m.: Paulino has been Bradenton's DH the past three games, actually, so injury would not be a major worry.
12:57 p.m.: Hearing that the Rays are out, at least as far as Bay goes. I had been told three days ago that the Rays might not do anything, hoping that oft-injured Rocco Baldelli could come back and do the job they seek. That organization has been built on nurturing prospects for a long time, and it is probably harder for them to let go of prospects than most. ... Sounds like this three-way thing is getting closer. All of a sudden, phones are on, and emails are working.
1:13 p.m.: The Pirates like the prospects, I am told, and no longer are the holdup. Separately, ESPN's Peter Gammons is saying Florida -- surprise -- wants more money, as much as $9 million to cover Ramirez's remaining salary and then some. Focus is off the Pirates.
1:22 p.m.: I spoke with the Blue Jays yesterday, and they had nothing on Bay. Now, as ESPN's Jayson Stark is reporting, they are calling.
1:33 p.m.: There was quite some optimism about an hour ago, quite some pessimism now. Sure sounds on this end as if the Pirates were ready to go, but the Marlins’ demands – including the extra cash – blew this out. But this obviously will take a while to flesh out. Still have not heard anyone say it is outright dead, either.
1:39 p.m.: Just spoke to someone in Tampa, and the Rays are not necessarily out of this, contrary to much else that is being said.
Posted
Jul 31 2008, 09:31 AM
by
Dejan Kovacevic