Only the Yankees know how far they'll be willing to go to sign Manny Ramirez, but the slugger believes the Bombers will be a serious contender for his services.
According to a source, Ramirez has told friends that he is confident the Yankees will offer him a contract of at least three years, one year longer than most team officials have said they would want to go.
Ramirez has no plans to get serious about any offers until after Mark Teixeira - a fellow Scott Boras client - makes a decision regarding his own future. Ramirez has already turned down a two-year, $45 million offer from the Dodgers and has told friends he is seeking a four-year deal in the $100 million range.
Should Teixeira return to Anaheim, the Yankees and Dodgers figure to be the main competitors for Ramirez. But if Teixeira signs with the Red Sox, the Angels would likely throw themselves in the mix, making it a wide-open race.
Ramirez has been a hot topic inside the Yankees organization, according to a source, although not everybody within the team's hierarchy is in agreement when it comes to signing the enigmatic slugger.
Hank Steinbrenner is leading the charge for the signing, the source said, hoping to reload his roster after watching the Yankees miss the postseason this year for the first time since 1993. Hal Steinbrenner is said to be warming to the idea, while general manager Brian Cashman isn't too high on adding a 36-year-old outfielder with plenty of baggage.
But with Jason Giambi and Bobby Abreu on their way out of town, the Yankees need to find a way to replace their combined 52 home runs and 196 RBI from last season. On paper, the Yankees' lineup looks formidable, but there are health concerns regarding Jorge Posada and Hideki Matsui, while Robinson Cano and newly acquired Nick Swisher are hoping to bounce back from bad seasons.
Plus, Xavier Nady doesn't have much of a track record as an everyday player, and the current center field combo of Brett Gardner and Melky Cabrera lacks punch.
