Poll: Dodgers Biggest Winner in Three-Way Trade

A poll of more than 21,000 CBSsportsline.com subscribers showed that as of midnight EST Thursday a decisive majority believed the Dodgers got best of the deal in the three-way trade involving Red Sox outfielder Manny Ramirez, Pirates outfielder Jason Bay and Dodgers third baseman Andy La Roche.

The deal gives the Dodgers a big, mid-lineup slugger in Ramirez, 36, who becomes a free-agent at the end of the year with no options. Meanwhile Bay, 29, goes to the Red Sox and will remain under Boston's control until the end of next year.

The Pirates received from the Dodgers third baseman Andy LaRoche, 22, brother of first baseman Adam LaRoche, and pitching prospect Bryan Morris, 21. From the Red Sox the Pirates received prospects Craig Hansen and Brandon Moss, both 24.

Asked which of the three teams benefited the most, poll respondents said the Dodgers, 51 percent, the Red Sox, 26 percent and the Pirates 24 percent.

In addition to the personnel moves, the Red Sox also are paying $7 million of the $20 million still owed to Ramirez this year.

Though reaction has been mixed in Boston, many fans expressed gladness that Ramirez and his difficult personality had been purged, a reaction somewhat reminiscent of the reaction in Los Angeles when often overrated Dodgers outfielder J.D. Drew opted out of his contract to go to the Red Sox.

Dodgers Acquire Manny Ramirez from Memphis Grizzlies

Mitch Kupchak must have been working the phones for Ned Colletti today because there's no way in hell Colletti was involved in the grand theft superstar that took place today when the Dodgers thieved Manny Ramirez from the Red Sox, giving up what basically amounts to Kwame Brown and Javaris Crittenton.

Colletti somehow swung this deal without giving up Matt Kemp or Andre Ethier, AND convinced the Red Sox to pay the remainder of Manny's 2008 salary. The Dodgers will send the Pirates Andy LaRoche, who was made expendable after Blake DeWitt passed him on the depth chart, and Bryan Morris, an A-ball pitcher coming off Tommy John surgery. It should be noted that the Red Sox get Jason Bay from the Pirates, but had to give up two good prospects in addition to Manny.

Manny can only make the Dodgers better. He's immediately the team's best hitter and this means less playing time for Andruw Jones. Worst case scenario, Manny leaves after the season and the Dodgers get a couple of draft picks to replace LaRoche and Morris in their farm system. Meanwhile the Diamondbacks struck out on Mark Teixeira and just about everyone else they were going after. Thanks for coming out Arizona, see you in the 2009 playoff race.

In conclusion, the Dodgers get a Hall of Fame outfielder for an expendable third baseman and an A-ball pitcher coming off Tommy John surgery. Thank you, Boston.

Manny to Florida Dead

The Red Sox have tentatively agreed to send Manny Ramirez to the Marlins in a three team deal also involving the Pirates. The Pirates would acquire Jeremy Hermida, while the Red Sox would receive Jason Bay. The Pirates would also receive at least two additional prospects.

UPDATE:  this deal is dead

Rays Need Jason Bay, Other Right-Handed Bats

With 30 major league general managers in the process of leaving New York after the All-Star break, the town is abuzz about clandestine gatherings for unprecedented, behind-the-scenes trade talks -- no small thanks to upstart Tampa Bay Rays operations chief Andrew Friedman and his top executive Gerry Hunsicker.

Fresh off a seven game losing streak and what may be a precipitous fall from first place, Friedman has an urgent need for a right-handed bat, especially with outfielders Jonny Gomes underperforming and Rocco Baldelli still quesionable after a series of injuries and illnesses.

Friedman must be considered a leading contender for the services of Astros outfielder Carlos Lee, and Pirates outfielders Jason Bay and Xavier Nady, not only because of Friedman's dire need for a more balanced offense but because more than any other rival he has stockpiled enough high draft picks which whom to barter.

In addition to Lee, Bay and Nady, switch-hitting Rangers All Star Milton Bradley might be acceptable, as Bradley is strongest from the right side of the plate.

Among Friedman's potential bargaining chips are coveted pitchers David Price and Jeff Niemann, both first rounders; Chris Mason, a second-rounder; and Wade Davis, a third rounder, all of whom at one time or another have been variously described as off limits or too cherished. However, all bets are off now that the Rays have suddenly emerged as serious contenders for a playoff berth.

All things considered, the Rays hardly can be expected to come away empty-handed after the July 31 trading deadline.

Pirates1B Adam LaRoche Awakens from Slumber

The thunder of little men bowling apparently has awoken Pirates first baseman Adam LaRoche from his 20-year slumber in the mountains, as he is hitting .516 with three homers, two triples and 11 RBI in 31 at-bats over his last 10 games, raising his overall average from .221 to .251.

LaRoche -- who typically rounds into form sometime after June 1 -- is a little later than usual this year, but the Pirates are not complaining. With LaRoche finally contributing in the middle of the lineup, the team can hardly be considered a pushover with LaRoche standing alongside Xavier Nady, .322; Ryan Doumit, .319; Jason Bay, .292; Nate McLouth, .280; and Jack Wilson, .298.

Freddy Sanchez, hitting .228 but with much more potential as the winner of the National League batting title with a .344 average only two years ago, is in the process of rediscovering his stroke. When Sanchez comes around the Pirates will look like one of the most feared Murderers' Rows since the 1931 Yankees.

Hot-and-Cold Periods Typical for Pirates Jason Bay

Pirates outfielder Jason Bay -- in the worst slump of his career -- continued to struggle over the past week, hitting just 2-17 for an average of .118.

That's even worse than the .150 clip Bay has hit over the past six weeks, as opposing batteries continue to exploit his inability to recognize off-speed offerings. The trend has exacerbated Bay's troubles, as he has come to anticipate a steady diet of breaking pitches and change-ups, thus causing him to miss fastballs when they zoom in unexpectedly.

Still, there is no cause for alarm over the long term, as Bay historically has experienced hot-and-cold periods, though none nearly as long as this one, according to former major league pitcher and Pirates broadcaster Bob Walk.

Walk -- commenting during a recent broadcast -- suggested that sooner or later Bay once again will hit his stride, and reclaim his No. 3 or No. 4 spot in the batting order after being dropped as low as No. 6. Walk said Bay will have better results if he stops trying to pull too many pitchers down the line, and uses more of the entire field.

Bay has been one of the most feared young hitters in the National League, hitting 35 homers last year with a consistent .280-.290 average. Hopefully for the Pirates, he will not devolve into a streak hitter along the profile of Houston's Jason Lane, Philadelphia's Pat Burrell or Baltimore's Jay Gibbons, all of whose production lapses are so severe that their status as full-time players is threatened.