UPDATE: Yothers withdraws Teixeira FanShot...

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Consider the Lobster: And Other Essays
by David Foster Wallace

What We Know About Manny Ramirez; From People That Matter --

A short collection of essays and arguments from Mike Scioscia and Arte Moreno

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It's amazing what you can learn in Scott Boras' suite

Arte Moreno arrived [at the Winter Meetings] to meet with Boras and talk about Teixeira and Ramirez. "How did you know?" Boras said. Most folks don't think Ramirez is the kind of player Mike Scioscia would embrace, but others have heard him say differently.

Asked if what I heard in Boras' suite was accurate, Scioscia said, "yes, it's accurate." He said if his staff didn't think Ramirez would fit with the team that would change things, but he said, "Ramirez would fit here."

T.J. Simers, latimes.com

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MIKE SCIOSCIA INTERVIEW ON SPORTS LODGE

Sciosc', replying to a question from Lodge on the Angels' radio affiliate about whether Ramirez was a "Mike Scioscia guy."

"I don't know how some of these things get started," Sciosc' said. "Our staff has been together for 10 years here. Really, we've had maybe one well-documented thing with Jose Guillen and that's it. I don't think we demand anything from our players that any other organization, any other manager, doesn't demand from their players.

"Manny Ramirez is a guy ... as long as he's practicing the game hard, playing it hard and producing, and is understanding of the team concept — which from everything I've heard from guys he's played with, he is; he's a guy who works very, very hard at what he does — he'd be a fit on a lot of clubs, including our own.

"I don't think it's anything like that that is going to keep Manny from being considered to play for our club. It's certainly length of contract, resources, things like that — (things) that would affect any other player."

Smith then asked Sciosc', "So, you're all for it if things can be worked out?

"Absolutely," Sciosc' responded. "Talent like Manny's is real. He's a winner. Whether it happens or not remains to be seen. But we would not rule him out. We have discussions obviously on character and makeup. We would not rule Manny out.

"When he's motivated — and he showed that in the last part of the season — this guy is one of the best talents in the game."

Finally, Lodge asked if the Angels would consult Tito Francona for a background check on Ramirez.

Sciosc' responded, "Already been done."

AM-830 KLAA .mp3

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Angels will let K-Rod go; Arte Moreno likes Manny Ramirez

"He single-handedly took L.A. to the promised land," Moreno said in an interview with AM-830.

"He did a heck of a job, he hit great, he was a fan favorite, he did a great job with their young players. At the end of the day, you want people who can hit, and he may be one of top right-handed hitters ever."

If Teixeira departs it would leave a huge void in the lineup --

Could Ramirez, the 36-year-old who hit .396 with 17 homers and 53 RBIs in 53 games with the Dodgers after a July 31 trade, fill that void?

Could the controversial outfielder fit in with the Angels, who actively pursued him in trade talks after the 2005 and 2006 seasons?

"That's a question for Mike and Tony," Moreno said. "For us, Manny hits. He's a clutch guy.

"He did a great job with Boston, and he did a great job with the Dodgers. Some people just hit, whether they're 30, 32 or 37. And I think he's better fitted for the American League because we have the designated hitter."

latimes.com

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De último minuto; Manny Ramírez: Tres años y 75 millones con los Yanquis

Title says it all, bummer.