• There has probably been more blatant lying during this year's hot stove league than in any in recent memory, on the part of some club officials and some agents. So are the Giants really interested in Manny Ramirez? The Giants haven't yet made an offer, writes Henry Schulman. Rival executives have major doubts about whether San Francisco would push its payroll to a record level in the midst of a recession -- which the club would have to do in order to sign Ramirez. Sure, they could entertain trade offers for Aaron Rowand and Randy Winn, but good luck with that in a winter in which the prices on free-agent outfielders have plummeted.
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Andruw Jones' days with the Dodgers
appear to be over, Bill Shaikin writes. Presumably, he will be released at some point, and keep in mind that the Padres have always valued him in the past because of his performances at Petco Park; if he's paid the minimum salary, it wouldn't be a stunner if San Diego offered him a chance to play.
But Jones' career has reached a crossroads, and what follows is incredible but true: If he doesn't show much in his next landing spot -- if he's not in shape, and he racks up the strikeouts again -- his career could be over.
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Buster Olney
