Here's a trade that would get us one of the best hitters in the game:

On BTF, I got into a discussion with some Red Sox fans and wound up negotiating a trade:

http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/sox_therapy/discussion/the_manny_question_again/

Colon, Juan Rivera, and Erick Aybar for Manny Ramirez and Mike Lowell.

Our payroll increases by 11 million, but we've upgraded two spots hitting, one on defense.  Our lineup looks like:

CF Figgins
SS OC
RF Vladimir
DH Manny
LF Anderson
3B Lowell
1B Kendry KotchPherson
2B Kendrick
C  Napoli

And the rotation is the same as what we ended 2006  with.  Now all we need is some bullpen help.

We'd need to know

A) if Manny is going to complain about being the primary DH or not - though he'd still get some OF time when Vlad/GA need rests

B) He'd accept the trade, and not demand we guarantee his option years in return for waiving his 5/10 rights.

What do you guys think?  Should we tell Bill our am I fired from trade negotiations?