DOING THE WAIVE: The Boston Red Sox did something interesting today- they placed their best offensive player, Manny Ramirez, on irrevocable waivers. This does not mean Ramirez is a free agent, but rather that every team in the rest of the league will have a chance to claim him from the Red Sox, without compensation to Boston.
Notice I didn't say "for free." That's because Ramirez, baseball's second highest-paid player, is still owed $100 million over the next five years, and any team that claimed him would be on the hook for that amount. If this were football the Sox could just cut him and take a hit of a couple mil, but in baseball all contracts are guaranteed, meaning that in order to move Ramirez, the Sox will have to move his contract too.
There are a few strange dynamics at work here- Manny obviously wants to play for the Yankees, so the Red Sox have essentially dared George Steinbrenner to take a shot (he's already said no). Therefore, Ramirez will likely pass through waivers, and then the Bosox will spend the rest of the offseason trying to trade him.
My theory? The Sox are trying to unload the second highest-paid player because they really covet the highest paid player. Yes, they want A-Rod, and are willing to give up Nomar Garciaparra to get him. Jimmy Fallon won't like it, but perhaps the rest of RSN will. But whether the Rangers are ready to give up on Alex Rodriguez three years into his ten-year, $252 million contract is another matter entirely.
And in other baseball news, the players' union is once again making noises about bringing a collusion case against Selig and the owners. Uh oh- I knew labor peace couldn't last long.