@Buster_ESPN: OAK scouts saw Manny Ramirez work out recently and they are interested. Final decision whether to try to sign him will happen in next week.

While I said the other day that I didn’t like the signing for Baltimore, I feel differently about Oakland.

Baltimore is a fairly veteran team that has some young up and coming talent. They’re on the verge of being competitive so let the guys who’ve been there get their due. Why push them aside for someone who won’t be around for a good portion of the year.

With Oakland they’ve got a very young team that well sucks. Yep, there’s some talent but they’re light years away from being competitive in the American League West. In addition to that they have no power supply and I’m quite sure that’s the only reason they’re looking at Ramirez.

They need someone who can give them a long ball threat. They’re not going to care that he can’t run anymore, they’re not going to care that he can’t really hit for average anymore. They’re just going to want someone who could put the fear of a homerun into a pitchers head.

After the departure of Josh Willingham they have no hitter who hit more then 15 homers in 2011. That’s absolutely pitiful which tells you exactly why they want Manny Ramirez. They’ll be willing to wait out those 50 games just for that threat.

I’m thinking he’ll pretty much be a replacement for Hideki Matsui. Meaning he’ll mainly play designated hitter with an occasional appearance in the outfield.

The only concern I have is this.. Do you really want Manny Ramirez being the mentor for such a young team?

I never thought this was a possibility especially with Jhoulys Chacin coming off back to back strong seasons but wow was I wrong. And there’s two reasons for this. Guthrie has really impressed his new boss, general manager Dan O’Dowd while Chacin has royally pissed off his boss.

First, the good stuff. Guthrie has come to Colorado with an attitude of wanting to work hard and be a winner. That’s exactly what the new boss wants to hear right?

Jeremy Guthrie has designs on starting opening day for the Rockies. No one is prepared to declare him the ace, but O’Dowd came away impressed after talking extensively with the right-hander after acquiring him from Baltimore on Monday. “His mindset, desire and competitive fire is to be the top guy. The change of scenery and change of leagues should help, and we want him to pitch to contact more. When he attacks the strike zone, he’s very, very good,” O’Dowd said. (Denver Post)

Now to the negative. Chacin is reportedly overweight and O’Dowd is not pleased with this.

Jhoulys Chacin disappointed O’Dowd with his offseason workouts. O’Dowd believes Chacin needs to drop weight because the added pounds affect the balance in his delivery and undermine his fastball command. Chacin spent much of the winter training in Venezuela rather than working out in Tucson. A person close to Chacin said Thursday that the right-hander currently weighs 226 pounds, and expects to be close to the 218 he was last spring when he reports to spring training next Sunday.

“I would say he could have worked a little harder this winter. I am not really happy about that,” O’Dowd admitted. ” I don’t think it will be issue by time it gets to camp. But it has to get to a point where he has maturity and discipline and realizes that this is his career.” (Denver Post)

So here’s the problem I see. Chacin may be over the weight O’Dowd wants him at but it’s not going to be much different then what he started 2011 at. I figure he’ll be slightly over that 218 because I don’t know how he’ll lose eight pounds in less then two weeks and be fully healthy. But if there’s not much difference then what’s the problem?

Well like that Denver Post article says O’Dowd is trying to change the culture of the Rockies. He wants these young kids to become more dedicated and start to show the maturity that veteran players should have.

Which means if you’re going to work out at home, away from the team’s watchful eye then you better handle your business. Don’t show up to Spring Training out of shape, it sets a bad example especially when it’s a pitcher who is penciled in as your ace.

This is the exact reasons why Guthrie’s name is now in the mix for the Opening Day start. He’s working hard and willing to do whatever it takes to improve. When management wants to change the culture in a clubhouse that’s the kind of guy they’re going to look to, no matter if it’s the best baseball move or not.

It should be interesting to see how this plays out during the next few weeks. Will there be bad blood or will today’s comments get Chacin’s attention?

@Buster_ESPN: The Marlins could make an offer to Cespedes today. Meanwhile, the Orioles are assessing their level of interest.

Buster’s source is Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports – School of Roch. Kubatko is reporting that Fred Ferreira, the Orioles executive director of international scouting, will be taking a trip to the Dominican Republic within the next ten days to scout Cespedes. If he likes what he says one could presumably expect an offer to follow.

Ferreira will head to the Dominican Republic in about 10 days to watch Cespedes work out. This will be his first look at the 26-year-old Cuban defector since shortly after the Winter Meetings in December.

Ferreira has been reading reports provided by a few of his scouts during the Dominican Winter League. (MASN Sports – School of Roch)

Here’s my thoughts and get ready for a couple if statements. If the Marlins are unable to close the deal and if Ferreira likes what he sees then I think the Orioles have to pull the trigger here.

The only other free agent outfielder being mentioned with Baltimore right now is Manny Ramirez and one would have to assume Cespedes is the better option. Even if the guy winds up being a flop I’d rather give him a chance then someone who is going to have to sit out a third of the season.

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While in the Dominican, Ferreira is also going to take a look at another prospect, 19-year old Jorge Soler. He’s not going to cost the team who signs him much money at all as he’s far away from the big leagues. He’ll most likely have to start his career in Single-A so he’d be your normal pluck a kid from the Caribbean and hope he works out.

The Baltimore Orioles have had “exploratory talks” with free-agent slugger Manny Ramirez’s agent, club executive vice president Dan Duquette said Monday.

“We are still considering the composition of this club, and some of the challenges of integrating a player like Manny into our ball club and market,” Duquette said. (Philly.com)

If the Orioles were to sign Manny he’d have to serve a 50-game suspension for violating the leagues drug policy. That 50-game ban isn’t as bad as it seems since he would have had to sit 100 games if he didn’t retire last April.

I just don’t know why the Orioles or any team for that matter who would want to bring Manny in. Personally, I think it tells your team that you don’t think they’re good enough. You’re saying that you’d be willing to wait a third of the season for this former way past his prime star to come and replace them.

Oh wait I know why Orioles would do this…… It’s all about the dollar dollar bill y’all.

That’s right the Orioles are probably under the belief that Manny Ramirez would bring them additional income. They probably think he’ll help their dismal attendance figures. They probably think he’ll help jersey sales.

Well guess what? It’s not 2005 anymore, it’s 2012. Manny Ramirez isn’t bringing in any additional income. He may get the team some extra mentions on Sports Center and by the mainstream media but that’s it.

From a baseball perspective this move would hurt them more then anything. I could even see Manny pissing off Buck Showalter and spending most of the year on the bench.

Being a Yankees fan though all I think is go ahead Baltimore sign Manny and have fun, you’re organization is still a joke.

@Ken_Rosenthal: Sources: #Yankees in serious discussions with Ibanez. He is willing to take less to play for them than he could get elsewhere.

What surprises me the most about this tweet is how Raul is willing to take less money to play for the Bombers. I guess he knows if he’s not in Philadelphia the team that gives him the best chance to win in 2012 is the Yankees. Especially when you consider he’s a perfect fit in that stadium with the short porch.

Only thing else I have to say is Brian Cashman – Git RRRRRR Done!

@JimBowdenESPNxm: There are four teams that are still playing on Johnny Damon to different degree’s: Baltimore, Seattle, Oakland & NYY…surprisingly not TB

I’m a little surprised with Seattle and Oakland showing interest. I don’t see how he would fit in with them especially with the size of their ballparks. He’s no longer the true speed guy he once was. A short porch like Yankees Stadium or a hitter’s park like Camden Yards would suit him best.

I don’t think he’ll sign anytime soon. All of those teams have interest but I doubt any of them are ready to sign they all probably consider him as a backup option. Time to start dropping that asking price Johnny boy.

“I think it will be helpful; I do,” Girardi said at Modell’s Sporting Goods in Times Square. “I think we’ve had a good offseason; I think Brian has done a really good job this offseason in what he’s done. But I think it’s important to our club that you add that other bat. The American League is going to be tough.” (MLB.com)

The three main names that have been thrown out so far are Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui and Raul Ibanez. With the first two holding a place in many fans hearts you’d have to wonder how Ibanez has any chance. All along I’ve said the Yankees shouldn’t live in the past and if there’s a better option then they should exercise it. Thankfully it looks like that one of them won’t be handed a roster spot.

“When you think about Raul Ibanez, he has had success wherever he has [gone],” Girardi said. “There could be other things that could happen; I can’t tell you it is going to be one of those three guys, or anyone. But obviously, we know they know how to play here.”

…

“Obviously, we know what Johnny and Matty have meant to this organization over the years, and how they’ve been successful in New York,” Girardi said. “I’m curious to see how it is all going to shake out.” (MLB.com)

In my opinion the best option would be Raul Ibanez. He struggled in 2011 but still hit 20 homers with the Philadelphia Phillies. I have no doubts in my mind that he can reach that number in Yankees Stadium, remember Citizens Bank Park is just as much a hitters park as the Stadium.

He’d also form a nice platoon at the DH position with Andruw Jones on days that Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixiera and Derek Jeter aren’t getting breathers. See Ibanez can’t hit lefties anymore while Jones still mashes them, sounds like a good match to me.

Like Joe said it will be interesting to see how this plays out. All three can provide a spark to the lineup but we know Cashman’s preference is to trade for a hitter not sign one.

I feel the best feature of MLB 2K11 was the My Player Mode when you get to create a player and do what you can to make him a superstar. This trailer shows from the minors all the way up to what we all dream of , facing off against the best.