Why was there such urgency to get Manny Ramirez free agency at the end of 2008? Would the picking up of even one of the option years been a catastrophe?

There's more to what has happened here than strictly getting Ramirez into free agency for its own sake. Boras has been talking about a four year/$100 million deal and a window of opportunity has opened that requires that he act quickly. There are very, very few teams willing to pay $25 million a year for a player on the wrong side of 35 years old. For all intents and purposes there is only one team that would do so...

... The New York Yankees.

There is a convergence of circumstances in the Bronx that Boras feels will allow him to obtain a contract at the levels he is discussing.

The Yankees are opening a new ballpark in 2009 and will wish to do so with a bang. According to some sources the team's revenues could quickly double in a new ballpark. Further, the Bronx Bombers have a 2009 option on Jason Giambi for $22 million that they will likely not exercise, Bobby Abreu's contract expires at the end of the season; other players off the books for next season include Andy Pettitte, Mike Mussina and Carl Pavano freeing up over $70 million in payroll space. Toss in Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui's contracts coming off the book at the end of 2009 and the Yanks have close to $100 million being cleared from the books.

With the extra revenue coupled with the freed up salary obligations, Boras is counting on a major spending spree to open the New Yankee stadium next season.

Also to be kept in mind is that Boras is counting on the Steinbrenner's love of tweaking the Red Sox and getting another hero of the Red Sox world championship team in pinstripes would be viewed as a coup. They paid a premium for Johnny Damon (another Boras client) before the 2006 season to wrest him away from the Red Sox and with the need for a corner OF/DH type in New York next season (especially since Ramirez was raised in the Washington Heights area of New York City) doubtlessly Boras sees a marriage made in financial heaven.   

Of course, with Hank Steinbrenner now running things--Boras knows a pigeon when he sees one and he's probably confident that he can shake and bake, deep fry, fricassee the Foghorn Leghorn of MLB without much difficulty. If he could get Tom Hicks to bid against himself for Alex Rodriguez at the beginning of the decade, he's probably thinking he can get Steinbrenner to bid against himself if there is a mirror in his office.

Remember, this is the guy that got A-Rod close to $300 million from the current administration with no other bidders.

It's the perfect storm for Boras--one that he would miss completely if the Red Sox (or any team trading for him) picked up even one of the option year in Ramirez's current deal.   

If Boras explained this to Ramirez (as he no doubt did) then it would explain the almost desperation tactics used by the left fielder both on the field and in the media. Potentially $60 million would be lost (the difference between the value of the option years and what Boras thinks he can get for his client in the next contract) plus from Boras's point of view--there's a huge gulf between $0 and what his commission would be on a $100 million package.

On top of all this, don't forget that if Manny is healthy from 2009-2012 he'll be chasing 3000 hits, 600 HR and 2000 RBI--milestones that Boras can sell to the Yankees for additional lucre. Assuming 60 more hits, 10 more HR and 30 more RBI in 2008, Ramirez would be sitting at 2388 hits, 522 HR and 1707 RBI requiring him to average just 153 hits, 20 dingers and 73 ribbies a season over a four year deal to reach those milestones.

In short, Ramirez has a chance to join the 3000 hit/600 HR/2000 RBI club in his next contract--a trifecta achieved only by Hank Aaron--do you think Boras could sell that to the Yankees' marketing department? Just imagine what that would do for ticket sales and revenue to the YES network?

However, it was all contingent in alienating the Red Sox and stating they would veto any trade that didn't involve the dropping of the two option years. Now we see in clearer focus the motive and opportunity aspects of Ramirez's circumstances.

While few non Red Sox rooters would lament Boston's missing the post season because of missing Manny's bat it would still raise the question whether the acts of Scott Boras and Manny Ramirez affected the 2008 playoff race. This much is certain--it is unseemly at so many levels. What makes it especially disgusting is that all parties will get away with it since the commissioner's office is more concerned with profitability than the integrity of the sport. Once again, we see in bold relief the truism that the value of the dollar will never fall as low as the means man will stoop to acquire it.

While I have never been a fan of Scott Boras--sadly my opinion of Manny Ramirez has been ratcheted down several notches.