Trade deadline incites rumors

Scenes from a trade deadline

The cellphone of Cincinnati Reds reliever David Weathers rang repeatedly Tuesday, with five friends calling to congratulate him on his trade to the Texas Rangers.

Didn’t happen. Weathers, 39, who has been involved in four midseason trades in his 19-year career, employs a veteran strategy in coping with the incessant rumors in advance of the July 31 trading deadline.

“I don’t read,” he said. “I don’t Twitter. I don’t blog.

“It’s not worth the effort. You’ll probably hear 15 different things, and none of them ever happen.”

Weathers, nonetheless, has heard his name connected to the Dodgers, Angels, Rangers, Colorado Rockies and Tampa Bay Rays. On July 31, 1996, he was traded to the New York Yankees, and he helped Joe Torre win the first of four World Series championships there.

“I already told Joe I’m his good-luck charm,” Weathers said.

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Ramirez news, nothing new

The Boston Red Sox didn’t much care for Manny Ramirez by the time they traded him to the Dodgers last summer. The Red Sox have let us know this over and over, all too often anonymously.

At least Reds pitcher Bronson Arroyo didn’t hide his name, after Ramirez hit his pinch-hit grand slam Wednesday, on a night he did not start because of a bruised hand.

“I know Manny,” said Arroyo, a former teammate in Boston. “He’ll take a day off if he gets hit like that, even if his hand is perfect.”

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Most powerful manager around

It’s Mike Scioscia, as if the 10-year contract wasn’t proof enough.

Listen to Angels owner Arte Moreno, as he saluted his team’s scouts and minor league staff for developing the organizational depth necessary to keep the team in first place during this injury-riddled season: “We’re making sure we’re developing the type of player Mike needs and Mike wants.”

Seldom has a manager been empowered as the architect of an organization. Perhaps that manager will be on the national stage, leading the American League squad in next year’s All-Star game at Angel Stadium.

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to manage that game,” Scioscia said. “I’d love to manage that game.”

That would require him to lead the Angels into the World Series for the first time since 2002. The Angels’ playoff record since then: 5-15.

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Henderson had many aliases

The highlight of today’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony no doubt will be Rickey Henderson’s speech. We’d love to hear Henderson deliver his entire address in the third person -- Rickey thanks you all for being here, Rickey is the greatest of all time, etc.

While we await his words, enjoy these words, from San Diego Padres General Manager Kevin Towers. In 1997, Towers had to track down Henderson in a room to tell him he had been traded to the Angels.

“I asked for Snoop Doggy Dogg, and the operator thought I was crazy,” Towers told the San Francisco Chronicle.

“Then I asked for Cool Papa Bell and she thought I was really nuts. Then I asked for Richard Pryor and she said, ‘Oh, Mr. Pryor is here, let me connect you.’ That’s how I told Rickey he was going to Anaheim.”

-- Bill Shaikin