Can the Yankees still sign Manny Ramirez?

Well, no, I don’t think they can. However, as Bryan Hoch notes, although such a signing would be highly unlikely, the Yankees have not officially bowed out of the Manny Ramirez sweepstakes.

I guess, with the Yankees, anything is possible and the team could potentially move Xavier Nady or Johnny Damon in order to make room for Manny (financially, roster-wise). There are also other ways of doing it, too, which would require some more chutzpah. With the market being the way it is and with the Dodgers willing to offer about $45 million over 2 years or so (only), the Yankees could offer a 4-year deal worth $60 million (or something akin to that figure) and attract Manny with more years rather than an enormous annual salary.

I mean, I don’t think it’ll happen and it probably won’t happen, but there are ways to make it work (and, for those who want Manny on the team, the poll is still open).

No interest in injured men

From Ken Rosenthal (FOXSports):

The Yankees, who continue to consider a number of free-agent starters, have little interest in Sheets and also don’t appear very serious about Freddy Garcia, another free agent. Garcia’s clearest opportunity to start probably is with the Rangers, but the Mets also could give him a chance, and the White Sox remain interested even after signing righty Bartolo Colon …

We’ve heard, recently, that the Yankees were fairly interested in Garcia so there are conflicting reports. Those reports could be designed to get Andy Pettitte to the table though for an even lesser deal than the initial $10 million the Yanks offered.

(Props to SIH).

Free Ryan Ward

Ryan Ward, the guy who moonlighted as Joba Chamberlain while at the Jersey shore, has been charged with theft by deception and disorderly conduct. Basically, the guy was able to trick some starstruck bagel shop employees in Belmar into giving him some free food. He was also banned from some bars after it was discovered he was an imposter.

His attorney, Constantine Bardis, called the charges against Ward a “tragedy.”

“What’s the crime in pretending to be someone?” Bardis said. “I’m Mel Gibson; want to have a drink? He just goofed around because he kind of looks like the guy.”

Ward then corrected his lawyer.

“He looks like me,” Ward said.

Belmar Police Chief Jack Hill called Ward a “nut,” saying Ward broke the law when he pretended to be a Yankees pitcher.

“He impersonated another person and took advantage of it,” Hill said. “We frown on people taking other people’s identity.”

This whole thing is ridiculous. So what if this guy dooped a couple of clowns into giving him free stuff. Is a free bagel worth a theft charge? Come on, I don’t think so. If he really was Joba he would have gotten the free food and that would have been the end of it. Don’t blame the guy who suckered the suckers, instead, blame the suckers.

Meanwhile, as Ryan Ward is being charged for taking advantage of his Joba-like looks in order to get some free food and a few free drinks, the real Joba is getting a slap on the wrist for his DUI.

What a crazy world we live in…

Braves won’t meet Yankees’ demands

From Ken Rosenthal (FOXSports):

A trade remains a possibility, but the Braves are unwilling to meet the Yankees’ price for outfielder Xavier Nady, knowing they might get better deals in July.

The Yankees are actively shopping Nady but, as indicated by KR, the Braves aren’t willing to cough up what the Yankees want. While this is fine, I’m wondering what, exactly, are the Yankees asking for? Now that’s the interesting question. Also, with the addition of Derek Lowe and Kawakami, the Braves have a much better rotation than they’re given credit for. The pressure for them to attain another bat isn’t as strong as it once was.

Todd Drew

R.I.P to Todd Drew of Yankees For Justice, as he was one of the best baseball bloggers I’ve ever had the privilege of reading. I didn’t know Todd well or at all, really. We only exchanged words once, via the web, commenting on each others’ blogs and offering some kind words (he actually posted here about a year ago). However, what I do know is that he was a phenomenal writer and whenever I perused his posts, whether at Bronx Banter or at YFJ, I always thought to myself, “Man, I want to write like that guy.”

My heart goes out to his family.