Interest in Manny growing?

From Mark Feinsand (Daily News):

Are the Yankees preparing to give Manny Ramirez a happy homecoming?

The pride of Washington Heights remains one of the biggest names left on the free-agent market, and while it may take some time before the future Hall of Famer finds a new home – or returns to his old one in Los Angeles – the Yankees figure to be a player for his services before all is said and done.

One baseball official told the Daily News that the Yankees’ interest in Ramirez is more than cursory, that they see the slugger as the perfect complement in their lineup to Alex Rodriguez, forming a 1-2 punch like he did in Boston with David Ortiz.

The official believes that the Yankees are “going hard” after Ramirez, to the point where they are willing to give him a three-year deal worth from $22 million to $25 million per year.

Two other officials are skeptical that the Bombers would commit three years to the enigmatic Ramirez, who has already seen the Dodgers make and withdraw a two-year, $45 million offer this winter. Both of them believe the Yankees will linger in the background while agent Scott Boras works to gather offers, and if the market is limited, the Yanks will try to jump in with a two-year, $50 million package.

According to a source familiar with the Yankees’ thinking, Brian Cashman has been lukewarm to the idea of signing Ramirez, but the rest of the front office – most notably Hal and Hank Steinbrenner – believes he is precisely what the Yankees need to bolster a lineup that underachieved in 2008.

It’s unlikely that Boras will let Ramirez sign anywhere until Mark Teixeira makes his decision, since the teams that fail to land the first baseman could decide to take a run at Ramirez as an alternative. The Red Sox, Angels, Nationals and Orioles are believed to be the final four teams in the running for Teixeira, and aside from the Red Sox, the other three could try to sign Ramirez if they don’t get Teixeira. The Dodgers could also jump back in the mix once the market for him clears up.

Boras did not return a call seeking comment.

The Yankees have put their proposed deal of Melky Cabrera and Kei Igawa for Mike Cameron on hold with the Brewers, and one source said Milwaukee was getting close to moving on if a trade was not completed soon since they had not heard from the Yankees since the end of the winter meetings.

The Yankees believe they have plenty of time to get a deal done with the Brewers, who are unlikely to find another team interested in acquiring Cameron and his $10 million salary. Still, a club source put the odds at “50-50″ that the trade will happen at some point.

One possible explanation for the Yankees’ sudden halt to the negotiations with Milwaukee is the Bombers’ increased interest in Ramirez. Should the Yankees sign Ramirez, he would become the new left fielder, shifting Johnny Damon to his old stomping grounds in center. In that scenario, Cameron would no longer be needed.

Cashman’s lack of interest in Manny is notable, as the Steinbrenner brothers seem very willing to chase him. I believe that they will ultimately pull a George, beat down Cashman’s apprehension and go after Manny, as long as the price is right (they have money to burn, especially if they don’t land Cameron). He would help the team protect A-Rod’s bat and I would think that you’d see a new demeanor from Alex in pressure packed situations.

Meanwhile, Ken Rosenthal makes the case for the Yankees signing Mark Teixeira. Both players (Manny and Tex) have their pros and cons, but Rosenthal believes that the Yanks should continue their dominating off-season and nab the best all-around player available and that’s Tex.