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Manny Ramirez and Ken Griffey Jr. are headed to new teams. Now, let's see how much they influence the pennant races. With more than 1,100 homers between them, two of baseball's greatest sluggers switched leagues just before the trade deadline Thursday to play prominent roles for playoff contenders.
Unhappy in Boston, Ramirez got his wish when he was shipped to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a blockbuster, three-team deal that sent outfielder Jason Bay from Pittsburgh to the Red Sox.
"He's a champion, he's a winner, and we really couldn't be happier," Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said. "We're willing to take the chance and go with this guy."
Griffey also agreed to a trade, leaving his hometown Cincinnati Reds to play center field for the first-place Chicago White Sox. The 38-year-old Griffey has never reached the World Series and hasn't even been in the playoffs since 1997 with Seattle.
Now older, it's uncertain how much he has left in his oft-injured body — it's been a long while since he was voted to the All-Century team.
"When I talked to Junior, he was very honest," Chicago GM Kenny Williams said. "He said, 'Well, I've got to tell you, I don't know that you're going to see the guy from Seattle.' I said, 'We're not looking for that guy from Seattle. What we're looking for is for you to use your instincts.'"
Despite all kinds of names being thrown around, only a handful of deals were completed in the days leading up to the deadline. But the ones that did get done featured several big stars.
Mark Teixeira went from Atlanta to the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday. The New York Yankees acquired Ivan Rodriguez and Xavier Nady within the past week. And a pair of top pitchers were traded in early July, with CC Sabathia going to Milwaukee and Rich Harden to the Chicago Cubs.
The only other deals announced Thursday drew little attention. Florida acquired left-handed reliever Arthur Rhodes from Seattle for Double-A pitcher Gaby Hernandez, and the Yankees sent slick-fielding shortstop Alberto Gonzalez to Washington for pitcher Jhonny Nunez in a swap of minor leaguers.
