-Dexter Sports
8:37 PM
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He could be the savior of a major league Squad. If you ask the Red Sox, he could be the demon that tears at souls and the chemistry of a ball club. Either Way, Manny Ramirez will demand a lot of money this off-season. And many teams will be after him. And though the dreadlocks, sunglasses and California attitude are appealing. I'm pretty sure I would pass if I were a GM.

Here is a look at some of the teams that will give Manny the Time of day. This will be a three part series starting with AL East and Central Teams that could bite at the worm and hook Scott Boras lays in front of them.

1). Toronto Blue Jays--

J.P. is trying to save his job and trying to impress the Canada faithful. According to many sources, GM J.P Riccardi has interest in Manny. Adding a middle of the order hitter to his lineup makes a lot of sense. The Jays will also be dumping a hefty amount of money if they don't re sign A.J. Burnett, which seems to be the case. But will Manny want to be the solo media star in canada? I don't think so. It sure would be nice to keep him at least somewhat quiet, but unless they throw way too much money at him, I don't see it happening. Unless he wants to spite the Red Sox, and thinks with him, the Jays are playoff type material.

I also don't see Riccardi putting a full push toward Manny. J.P. Riccardi is always all talk. Besides bringing in Burnett and Ryan, he really hasn't held up to his word. Just ask Rod Barajas. Could you imagine Cito Gaston managing Manny? Oh goodness. That sounds like madness. One thing we do know is that J.P will have nothing to do with Adam Dunn this off-season. Who knows, the hypocrite might give him a deal.

As it stands, I don't see this happening. Riccardi wont mounty up to offer more money than any other team. Plus, Manny a Blue Jay? It just doesn't seem natural, Does it?

Prediction Machine Says: No Money, No Luck. Manny will not be a Jay in '09

Baltimore Orioles-

What? Yes they have a strong inside shot of bringing Manny in. GM Andy MacPhail has a history of staying away from the big contract free agent (trade profile coming up later). So even though rumors have spread that the Orioles are interested, I doubt to see anything happen. If MacPhail were to spend the money, and feels that he is close to being a contender, I have to believe that he will go after the younger Mark Teixeira to man first base. One thing is certain. The O's have the money to waste. But I doubt that Manny Ramirez is in the picture, considering their pitching woes. He would also have to man the DH position, considering Nick Markakis and Luke Scott are better outfielders. The void at first would be addressed by moving current DH Aubrey Huff to the hot corner.

I'm sold that MacPhail wouldn't be willing to spend the money that Greedy Agent Scott Boras will ask for. Unless, it is for the younger Teixeira. It would be interesting though to see if Bobby Abreu, or someone of that caliber, is brought in as well. If MacPhail feels he is only a couple peices away from doing what the Rays have this season, don't be surprised if he pulls the trigger.

Prediction Machine Says: Manny the 'O? I dont see an O in the name Manny Ramirez. But I do see a possibility of this happening. It will all depend on how eager management is.

3.) New York Yankees-

Well if a close friend to Manny, if that even should be considered a source, stated that Manny wants to play for the Yankees next season. Revenge on the main course? I would think that would be the main reason beyond money that Manny settles in New York. And if he performs, Manny can be Manny. Fans won't necessarily be upset if he bobbles a ball, or goofs around in the stadium. Heck, this might be the best personalty and performance combo to come to the Yankees since Babe Ruth.

I think the Yankees have the best fit of any NL East teams, but I am not about to jump on the bandwagon of signing him, much like the New York Post is. Personally, if I were Brian Cashman, I would bring back Bobby Abreu instead. But you know those Steinbrenners. They always have to one up everyone when it comes to free agency. The pockets will be open, and Scott Boras will be shoving the money in his pockets as fast as possible. I expect at least two of his clients to sign with the Yankees this off-season.

Prediction Machine Says: Holy Toledo. Man-Ram, AROD, K-Rod?, Melky and The Firey flamethrower? It's going to happen. Why? Becuase the prediction machine says so. I think the Yankees have the best shot at signing Manny away from the L.A. Dodgers.

Part 1 of 3.

-Dexter Sports
4:39 PM
Dexter-Sports Inbox

Miguel Olivo isn't what you would call a, "top notch" player. His numbers add up to a measly .241 average and nearly 557 strike outs in 640 games played. He has never had more than 60 RBIs in a season, and astonishingly has never drawn more than 19 walks in a season. Add that with the fact that he does have a history of injury and suspension, and Olivo doesn't seem too appeasing. But I believe, because of age and other factors, He might be the best free agent available on the market.

Sure, He isn't the leader that Pudge Rodriguez or Jason Kendall are. And he isn't a Varitek, who dons a 'C' on his chest, but he does don some offensive numbers that are close, if not better than these group of hitters.

Take Ivan Rodriguez for example. In 129 games split between New York and Detroit, Pudge drove in 35 runners. For Olivo, in his 84 games, he drove in about one every two games played (41 RBIs). Olivo drove himself in 12 times via the long ball. In 48 more ballgames, pudge only went deep seven times. Defensively, it's not even close. But I think Olivo's offense makes up for that.

Consider this. Out of his 84 games of work, Olivo accounted for 70 runs. And that was playing for a team, whose offense was down right pittiful. And though he has no idea how to reach base, he does have a tendancy to stretch out pitchers. 134 of his 306 at bats went 4-6 pitches. Though he had more at bats, Jason Kendall, who is considered one of the most patient catchers at the plate, took his at bats 4-6 pitches 40% of the time. Olivo's rate is near 44%.

I understand that Olivo isnt going to be a team leader, or something to build around, but he could well be worth the look if both the Royals and Olivo opt out of the 2009 deal. If not, be prepared for a decent 2009, If Miguel gets fair playing time.

(Stats Accumulated via billjamesonline.net)

-Dexter Sports
2:41 PM
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Bradon Looper has seen it all on the mound. As a closer, he saw success to an extent with the Marlins in '03 and the Mets in '04 and '05. Then, after signing as a free agent with St Louis, he was converted into a starter and also had some success.

A big part of the 2006 Cardinals title run, Looper won 9 games and had 15 crucial holds. And though he has not been perfect since 2006, he has been able to eat innings and control games. It is a big reason why he could be one of the under the radar signing this off-season.

According to Bill James Online, Looper threw his fastball 61% of the time in 2008, followed by his split finger 18% of the time, and his slider 15% of the time. In the 199 innings he pitched in 2008, Looper was able to get the first hitter out in 139 of those innings. He threw 148 Shutout innings. His 2008 also proves that he is consistent whenever he took the mound. In his 12 wins on the season, Looper tallied 43 ks and 18 walks. In his 14 losses, Looper struck out 44 batters and walked 20.

Breaking down his performance, I am sold on the fact that some team should give him a shot as a middle reliever or even set up type pitcher. Even though Looper allowed a lot of hitters to reach base, whether it be the walk or the hit, He only allowed 34% of those runners to score.

Though Looper's injury history is against any team that signs him, he might be well worth the shot. Of course, he will not be making anything near the 5 million that he made in 2008, but he could be a good filler on a lot of squads.

The Tigers, A's, Cardinals, Orioles, among others could give him a shot in 09.

Dexter-Sports
6:00 PM
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Proper Name: Jacque Dewayne Jones
Born: April 25, 1975 in San Diego
High School: San Diego HS
College: Southern California
Ht.: 5-10 Wt.: 200
Bats: L Throws: L

Jacque Jones came into this season hoping that his continuous slow starts would be a thing of the past. Boy was he wrong. Now, after playing on two different teams in two different leagues in less than six months. He will wait for another chance to prove himself. And some team will be willing to take the chance.

After what seemed a promising second half, where Jones hit .325 with three home runs and 46 RBIs with the Cubs in 2007, the Tigers went after him to fill their left field woes. Manager Jim Leyland was hoping for the same player that hit 20+ homers and had 80 RBIs 3 times in his career. He was hoping for a leader and a sound defensive left fielder. Instead, He got an aging outfielder with a .244 OBP and a .156 AVG after 24 games. When push came to shove, and the Tigers were struggling mightily, it was Jones who lost his job. That was when the Florida Marlins came calling.

With injuries piling up and a lack of veteran leadership, the Marlins sought out Jones to fill in in the outfield. Yet again, he was getting a shot on a winning team. And again he blew it. After posting only four hits in 37 at bats and a .227 OBP, the Marlins cut ties with the veteran. Now, Jones continues to look for work. And though he has struggled this season, I believe there will be a lot of interest in him.

Jones has been known as a player that puts intense pressure on himself. Current Twins analyst Dan Gladden has seen it before. Jones struggles because he believes he should do a lot more than he should. As his struggles continue, His pressing has gotten worse. This time off should help clear his mind. It's also why he should be given a minor league deal to put things in perspective.

Many teams might be willing to do this. Knowing the potential that Jones has, especially from the power aspect, It would be worth while investment. Giving him a minor league deal takes the pressure off as well. He will not be rushed into a major league situation.

Teams that could have interest include his hometown Padres, the Cleveland Indians, Minnesota Twins, New York Mets and the Atlanta Braves.

-Dexter Sports
8:56 PM
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Kenny Lofton could again become one of the best pickups for a team near the trade deadline. This time, he will be looking to come back to a game that he has seen nearly a 1/3 of a season pass by. There is no doubt that Lofton could be used. At 40 years of age, (we will be nice Kenny, We know your birthday is tomorrow) Lofton still has speed, the intangibles and great clutch hitting that has many teams interested in his services. Let's look deeper.

Lofton's career was given life again last season, as the Indians, yet again called on his services to help their team in a playoff run. Lofton, then with Texas, wasn't struggling at the dish, but it seemed that the highest active stolen base leader and 4 time gold glover's career was about to end. Then the Indians gave him a chance to fill in for the injured David Dellucci. After seeing him perform in clutch at bats, teams with injuries or in need of a boost are looking to Lofton to help them get over the hump.

Lofton is a career .299 hitter with a .372 OBP. Everyone knows that he can run, field, hit and scrap in any way to get on base. Soon enough someone will give Lofton a chance. Here are a list of teams that should do it as soon as possible.

Detroit Tigers: Why not? The Tigers let go of Jacque Jones and have now platooned youngsters Matt Joyce and Clete Thomas alongside slugger Marcus Thames. I think that bringing in Lofton in left could be a spark that this team needs. Considering Curtis Granderson has a hard time getting on at the lead off spot, Lofton could be that one hitter that gets on base and creates havoc at the top of the order.

Colorado Rockies: Though Clint Hurdle feels that Wily Taveras is producing with speed and getting on base, in all reality it is quite the opposite. Taveras is hitting a lowly .245 and though he has 20 stolen bases, it wouldn't hurt to platoon Lofton to get on base a bit more.With Brad Hawpe on the DL, Lofton could fill in for now.

Houston Astros: Michael Bourn has been fun to watch and he is a stealing machine, but Bourn is clearly not taking the first step to the stolen base; getting to first. Bourn has a .276 OBP, which is nothing to brag about. Lofton could come in and get on base a bit more, and though he might not steal a base every time he is on, Lofton can still hold his own on the base paths. It will take Ed Wade admitting that Bourn wasn't as ready for the bigs as he thought in November. Just imagine the offensive production that we could see from Carlos Lee, Lance Berkman, and Miguel Tejada if they had someone on base in front of them.

Cleveland Indians: The organization made the decision after their playoff run not to bring back Lofton, but now they might be who they call on to help spark their offense. The sexy option is to go after Matt Holliday or Jason Bay, but this seems a bit more realistic. If David Dellucci continues to stink it up or Ben Fransisco slows down his hot start, The Indians could be calling real soon.

New York Mets: With Moises Alou unable to stay away from the DL, the Mets might be forced to bring in someone that can fill the void in left field. Though Ryan Church has been a pleasant surprise and Angel Pagan looked good in spring training, it is time for the Mets to do something. Everyone is talking about firing Willie Randolph. How about picking up for the slacking Jose Reyes and oft-injured Luis Castillo by signing Kenny Lofton.

-Dexter Sports
7:59 PM
Dexter-Sports Inbox

Jay Gibbons is most known for his once boasted talented prospect status and his positive test of HGH that ultimately has ended his career. After years of lack of production, the Orioles finally let go of the left handed outfielder this off-season. Figuring that giving up 11.4 million was worth more than carrying a cancer in the clubhouse. Now Jay Gibbons is a free agent on the outside looking in. He he worth giving a minor league contract? I think so. He has always been a decent hitter, and might be able to fill in as a fourth or fifth outfielder if someone gets injured. Let's take a look at what Jay Gibbons has done in the past.

Gibbons was drafted in the 14th Round of the 1998 amateur draft by the Toronto Blue Jays. That same year, Gibbons went on a tear, hitting .397 19 homers and a pioneer league 98 RBIs. Gibbons would take home the triple crown in the pioneer league and thus his prospect career was born. That success continued in 99, when in A ball, he hi 25 home runs, the most in the Jays minor league system. He managed to get on base in 34 straight games. In 2000, He continued to tear the cover off the ball, hitting .321 for AA Tennessee and was an all star first baseman. In 2001, Gibbons would finally get his shot.

For Some reason, the Jays left Gibbons unprotected and the Orioles swept in and stole the slugging first baseman. He would hit 15 homers as a rule 5 pick. His Offense continued to shock many. In 2002 he went deep 28 times and in 2003 he had 100 RBIs. Jay Gibbons once had an offensive presence. HGH or not, they are worth looking at.

Though he is injury prone, and no one really knows what he is able to do off of the juice, he has shown in his early carrer that he has the talent to be a major leaguer. It is possible to see a team sign him for depth or an invite to spring training. We have saw Greg Zaun and others come back from it.

-Dexter Sports
10:37 PM

He is the king of the long ball and arguably the best ever at getting on base. He is king in an era where steroids dominate the picture. Barry Bonds sits at home without a team. Though there is a lot of baggage with the 43 year old, some team ought to take a chance on this guy.

Like many, including Tim Dierkes of MLBTR, I believe that Bonds will take the field as a DH sometime this year. His 28 Home Runs and 66 RBIs are good enough to land him a contract. Someone will finally give in and give Bonds a chance. Even though no matter what team he lands on, fans will hate the move. He is known as a club house cancer, who is washed up and on the major decline. I think when it comes down to it though, some ball clubs will look at the .480 OBP he put up last year. They will look beyond the posse that comes with him and the press that stalks him. Does he have any chance on a NL team? I don't think so. Will he play for league minimum? I think that is a possibility and that is how 3 of the four teams on this list of possible suitors will look to land him. Here are a list of teams that should give him a chance:

Kansas City Royals: Nobody expects this team to be in the hunt for a playoff spot, but if they continue to pitch the way the have, with a little offense they could be that team that sneaks in. Barry Bonds would add a lot of dimension at either DH or LF for this ball club. They could simply put DH Billy Butler at first or move Gathright to center and deal Dejesus to make room for Bonds.

Tampa Rays- This team doesn fit the role now that they have went after Dan Johnson and Gabe Gross. They still could go after the slugger if they continue to struggle with the bat. I don't count them out, but with a lot of young talent, I don't see bonds as a big option for this club, even though there is a possibility.

New York Yankees- If there is a team that would throw money at Bonds, it is the Yankees. They could easily release the always struggling Jason Giambi and bring on big Bonds to compliment A-Rod, Abreu and Cano. I like the Yankees, simply because they are never afraid to sign anybody depsite their past history (Daryl Strawberry, Dwight Gooden).

Seattle Mariners- Though they have clearly stated that they have no interest in Bonds, this is the team that i think best fits the role. Jose Vidro could either move to the outfield or if Richie Sexson continues to struggle he could move to first base. Vidro could also become a primary bench player and Bonds could slip right into the DH spot. The cheap fix would be power bat Jeff Clement in the minors, but if the M's are in the hunt, we could see them buy success.

-Dexter Sports
7:35PM

It came to no surprise in mid March when the Seattle Mariners released Starting Pitcher Horacio Ramirez. He had been everything short of spectacular and a major bust the trade that sent him to Seattle in which the Braves acquired their current closer; Rafael Soriano. Though Seattle cannot be blamed for pulling the trigger in this deal, considering the situation that Soriano had put them in. It was a deal that was rushed, and for that the Mariners did not grab the starting pitching talent they were hoping for.

So, when it came time to release Ramirez, it wasn't a tough decision. With an off-season that saw the acquisition of Lefty Ace Erik Bedard, the development of the young Felix Hernandez and the signing of innings-eater Carlos Silva, this team's staff staff seemed better without him. Especially when you throw in the fact he was 8-7 with a 7.16 ERA in 98 innings pitched in '07. Okay, so we know he was horrible last season, but why hasn't anyone given this guy a chance?

When compared to John Patterson and Claudio Vargas, two recently released pitchers who have signed elsewhere as depth, Ramirez's numbers match up. Lets compare the numbers:

Claudio Vargas (NYM) 43-38 666.2 IP 4.95 ERA (Career)
John Patterson (TEX) 18-25 454.1 IP 4.28 ERA (Career)
Horacio Ramirez (FA) 38-29 619.1 IP 4.61 ERA (Career)

Looking at these numbers got me thinking, It can't be about performance, possibly it has to do with age. NOPE. All three players are within a year difference in age. I am still stunned to not see a team jump all over this guy. I know it seems pointless to scream out to General Managers the value of someone with a high 4 ERA, but a lot of teams could use the depth in the pen or even in AAA, heaven forbid one of their starters go down to injury. Plus, there could be upside to the deal. Take the 2006 Cardinals. Their smart decision to sign the unproven and to that point horrid Jeff Suppan in 2004, gave them the edge in the playoffs that year. There are always diamonds in the rough, and this diamond sits on the free agent list while the cubic zirconia Barry Zito continues to eat up the Giants Payroll putting up the same numbers as Ramirez has in the past.

With that being said, I can see a couple teams who should give Ramirez a shot. How about the Detroit Tigers? with Dontrelle Willis going down with an injured knee, and no depth at AAA, why not sign this guy? Even if Willis is ok, why not have some depth behind that shaky pitching staff. Another team that shouts out is the Tampa Bay Rays. Their Staff is completely desamated right now. With Matt Garza on the 15 Day and Scott Kazmir just short of a comeback, Ramirez should be brought in, since the Rays won't even give David Price a look. Finally, how about the Kansas City Royals. Wouldn't be nice to have some depth in case Brett Tomko didn't work out? I know that Hideo Nomo might be able to do that, but come on, He is three years removed and lacking the stamina needed to start.

Whoever it is, Someone in baseball should give this guy a look. You never know. Plus, Horacio could be the definition of a team player.