Brian Damage
07-30-2005, 02:55 PM
The proposed three-team trade involving the Red Sox, New York Mets and Tampa Bay Devil Rays -- with Boston outfielder Manny Ramirez at the heart of it -- is still alive and still being discussed, baseball sources said Saturday.
The proposal took on a different look late Friday into Saturday, however.
The Red Sox would acquire Mets outfielder Mike Cameron and pitcher Aaron Heilman, and Devil Rays outfielder/designated hitter Aubrey Huff; the Mets would get Ramirez, reliever Danys Baez and shortstop Julio Lugo; and the Devil Rays would still get four prospects, but the prospects are being reconsidered.
An official with one of the three teams told ESPN.com that the Mets never walked away from the deal Friday night over money. Rather, it was over their reluctance to let go of Lastings Milledge, one of their top prospects. Saturday, however, the Mets have softened on that stance.
If Milledge is still included in the current proposal, Red Sox prospect Hanley Ramirez gets thrown into the mix. Milledge would potentially go to the Red Sox, and Ramirez would get shipped to Tampa Bay.
Meanwhile, the Toronto Blue Jays have talked to the Red Sox as well and made an "inquisitive call" about Manny Ramirez, sources said.
Late Friday, the Red Sox, Mets and Devil Rays had decided that if they couldn't get a deal patched by noon Saturday, they would have no choice but to move on, an executive with one of the teams said late Friday night. Major League Baseball's trade deadline is 4 p.m. ET on Sunday.
"If there are any complications involving Manny's contract, or any financial ramifications [such as luxury tax or deferral issues, they] would require the approval of the commissioner's office," the executive said. "So this is not the kind of deal you can do at 3:59 p.m. Sunday."
ESPN.com (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2120374)
The proposal took on a different look late Friday into Saturday, however.
The Red Sox would acquire Mets outfielder Mike Cameron and pitcher Aaron Heilman, and Devil Rays outfielder/designated hitter Aubrey Huff; the Mets would get Ramirez, reliever Danys Baez and shortstop Julio Lugo; and the Devil Rays would still get four prospects, but the prospects are being reconsidered.
An official with one of the three teams told ESPN.com that the Mets never walked away from the deal Friday night over money. Rather, it was over their reluctance to let go of Lastings Milledge, one of their top prospects. Saturday, however, the Mets have softened on that stance.
If Milledge is still included in the current proposal, Red Sox prospect Hanley Ramirez gets thrown into the mix. Milledge would potentially go to the Red Sox, and Ramirez would get shipped to Tampa Bay.
Meanwhile, the Toronto Blue Jays have talked to the Red Sox as well and made an "inquisitive call" about Manny Ramirez, sources said.
Late Friday, the Red Sox, Mets and Devil Rays had decided that if they couldn't get a deal patched by noon Saturday, they would have no choice but to move on, an executive with one of the teams said late Friday night. Major League Baseball's trade deadline is 4 p.m. ET on Sunday.
"If there are any complications involving Manny's contract, or any financial ramifications [such as luxury tax or deferral issues, they] would require the approval of the commissioner's office," the executive said. "So this is not the kind of deal you can do at 3:59 p.m. Sunday."
ESPN.com (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2120374)