Dodgers Get Manny Ramirez for two prospects

http://sportsblogs.latimes.com/sports_baseball_dodgers/2008/07/dodgers-get-man.html

Dodgers Get Manny Ramirez for two prospects
July 31, 2008

Andrew and Brian are away from their desks this afternoon, probably dumbstruck and shocked that the Dodgers were able to pull the trigger on pretty much The trade of the year.

According to Bill Shaikin of the Times, the Blue Crew didn't have to give up all that much to get the controversial slugger:

The Red Sox are expected to cover the $7 million remaining on Ramirez's salary, enabling the Dodgers to meet owner Frank McCourt's reported mandate that any trade not add to the team payroll.

The Dodgers are expected to trade two prospects -- third baseman Andy LaRoche and pitcher Bryan Morris -- as part of a three-team deal. The Red Sox are expected to get Jason Bay from the Pittsburgh Pirates to replace Ramirez in the Boston outfield, with the Pirates getting those two prospects from the Dodgers and two more from the Red Sox.

Ramirez, 36, has waived his no-trade clause, something that he promised he would do earlier this week when he gave his latest press conference.

Two days ago in an interview with ESPN. Ramirez was extremely harsh on the BoSox, an organization where he was part of two world championships:

"The Red Sox don’t deserve a player like me. During my years here I’ve seen how they have mistreated other great players when they didn’t want them to try to turn the fans against them.

"The Red Sox did the same with guys like Nomar Garciaparra and Pedro Martinez, and now they do the same with me. Their goal is to paint me as the bad guy. I love Boston fans, but the Red Sox don’t deserve me. I’m not talking about money. Mental peace has no price and I don’t have peace here."

The details of the trade are as follows: Jason Bay will go to the Red Sox, Manny will go to the Dodgers and Pittsburgh will get four prospects, two from LA and two from Boston:

The last-place Pirates, looking for young talent, gave up their star outfielder and got reliever Craig Hansen and outfielder Brandon Moss from Boston and third baseman Andy LaRoche and pitcher Bryan Morris from the Dodgers.

LaRoche, Moss and Hansen will join Pittsburgh and Morris will go to Class A Hickory.

- Tony Pierce