1027
by rusty2
Manny Ramirez draws no comment from Cleveland Indians: winter meetings chatter
Published: Monday, December 05, 2011, 12:09 PM
By Paul Hoynes, The Plain Dealer
Manny Ramirez is seeking reinstatement to the big leagues.
DALLAS, Texas --News, notes and quotes from MLB's winter meetings at the Anatole Hilton Hotel.
-Indians GM Chris Antonetti had no comment when asked if he was interested in signing Manny Ramirez. The former Indians outfielder is seeking reinstatement from MLB's retirement list.
Ramirez, facing a 100-game suspension last season for violating MLB's drug policy, retired early last season with the Rays. MLB has announced that Ramirez would only face a 50-game suspension if he can find work with a big league club.
Since 2008, Ramirez has played with Boston, the Dodgers, White Sox and Rays. He hit 37 homers in 2008, but only 28 since. Ramirez's career numbers, without the two drug infractions, are Hall of Fame worthy at .312, 2,574 hits, 547 doubles, 555 homers and 1831 RBI.
He played with the Indians from 1993 through 2000.
-Ron Santo, the Cubs late third baseman, was elected to the Hall of Fame on Monday by a vote of the Golden Era Committee.
A player needed 12 votes to gain admission. Former Indian Minnie Minoso received nine. Louie Tiant, another former Indians, received fewer than three.
-The Indians have told catcher Carlos Santana that he cannot play winter ball. Santana, just over a year removed from surgery on his left knee, is coming off a season in which he led the Indians with 155 games played and finished second with 552 at-bats.
Santana, Fausto Carmona and Ubaldo Jimenez have been conditioning with Nelson Perez, Indians athletic trainer, in the Dominican Republic for the last five weeks. The Indians want Santana rested and healthy when he reports to spring training in February.
The switch-hitting Santana batted .239 (132-for-552) with 35 doubles, 27 homers and 79 RBI, 133 strikeouts and 97 walks. Santana's 27 homers set a club record for switching hitters.
-Jimenez, who did not pitch winter ball last offseason, will make his first start for Licey on Dec. 15. Manager Manny Acta will be on hand to watch.
-ESPN is reporting that the Indians are one of nine teams interested in free agent outfielder Josh Willingham. No surprise there because they tried get him at the trading deadline in July.
Willingham, a right-handed hitter, hit .246 (120-for-480) with 26 doubles, 29 homers and 98 RBI for Oakland last season.
-Kosuke Fukudome did a nice job for the Indians after being acquired from the Cubs for the stretch run, but it's unlikely they'll re-sign the free agent outfielder. It may have been a different story if Fukudome hit right-handed instead of left-handed.
With the re-signing of free agent Grady Sizemore, the Indians are expecting to open the season with three left-handed hitting outfielders in Sizemore, Michael Brantley and Shin-Soo Choo.
-Right-hander Chad Durbin, the Indians other free agent, will not be back.