Morning Report: Manny as a Met?

In case you're wondering whether Manny "I'd play in Iraq" Ramirez will wind up in Shea Stadium, you're not alone.

Yahoo Sports says the Mets will keep trying until Thursday's deadline to land Ramirez's big bat and bigger contract.

"The Mets worry that Ramirez is too much of an investment in their prospects, money and patience," the Web site said. "Nevertheless, his availability, general manager Omar Minaya's long obsession with Ramirez and the reality of what his bat could mean will keep the Mets engaged with Boston, despite the extremely strong belief there is no deal to be made."

Not so fast. Dan Shaughnessy, longtime columnist for the Boston Globe, seems to think a deal can be made.

Red Sox general manager "Theo Epstein has wanted to get rid of Manny since the end of the 2003 season," Shaughnessy wrote yesterday. "Now he has the hammer. He has an owner who has seen the light. Manny insulted [owner] John Henry during the all-star break and the once-naive billionaire is now on board with his baseball operations people. They all love Manny's presence in the cleanup spot, but the nonsense has reached a point where it's just not worth it anymore."

Just wondering. If we've seen the last of Adam Eaton, will we soon see the last of Ryan Madson?

More trade talk. Last week, Morning Report told you the Cincinnati Reds were making a trio of players available, but now that apparently is down to just Jason Dunn and Junior Griffey.

According to ESPN.com's Jayson Stark, the Reds have informed other clubs that they no longer are interested in trading pitcher Bronson Arroyo.

According to Stark, only the Yankees and Rockies were known to be interested, but Cincinnati apparently was finding that the $24 million Arroyo has coming through 2010 limited the talks.

Stay tuned. If pitching is as scarce as it seems to be, Arroyo might re-emerge as Mr. Available by Thursday.

Stark also reported that Baltimore's lefthanded reliever George Sherrill is available and the Phillies could get him for Reading's shortstop, Jason Donald, an Olympic team selection.

History lesson. On July 28, 1931, Bob Fothergill of the Chicago White Sox hit a home run and a triple in an 11-run eighth inning. The White Sox set an American League record by recording 12 hits in the inning and beat the New York Yankees, 14-12.