The Yankees had Manny as a fallback in case they didn't get Mark Teixeira, but they did, so he's not going there. And he's not going to Boston, because ... well, I think it's fair to say he burned some bridges on his way out of there. And the Angels' GM said yesterday that there's no way they're going to sign him.

So, the Mets. Right? Perfect fit. They need somebody to play left field. He's a monster hitter who'd probably put them over the top in the National League now that they have the bullpen worked out. They have money to spend (or so they say, Bernie Madoff notwithstanding). They need another lavage for the wounds left from another September collapse. Bring a New York guy, who also happens to be a future Hall of Famer, home? Perfect fit.

Except, no.

People familiar with the Mets' thinking say it's not happening. Omar Minaya loves the guy, wants him badly, but he can't sell him to ownership. Talk to people associated with the Mets, and they'll all tell you the same thing - if the Mets were going to get Manny Ramirez, they'd have got him in July, when he was practically free. When all you had to give up was two mid-range prospects and the Red Sox were paying his whole salary. But they didn't, and it wasn't because they were lazy or unmotivated. It was because the people who own the team don't want him on the team. That hasn't changed, and it's not about to.

Which is why the guy who had the worst day yesterday, other than Theo Epstein, was Manny Ramirez. Because, honestly, where is he going to go now?

What's Manny's market? The Red Sox, Angels, Orioles, Nationals and Yankees were the teams in on Teixeira - the teams that were looking to spend big bucks on a middle-of-the-lineup hitter. And with one stroke yesterday, the Yankees eliminated all five from Pcredit: Gcredit: