Dodgers Want to Pay Manny 'Manny Money', But Length Could Be Sticking Point

The Los Angeles Dodgers are interested in bringing Manny Ramirez back to the city of angels. And why shouldn't they be? Manny's arrival (for free!) from the Red Sox sparked the Dodgers lineup, propelled them into the playoffs, and even convinced a bunch of idiots to pick them to win it all. Sigh.

So now the Fighting Collettis want to sign him to a deal. He is, after all, an expensive, veteran outfielder, so expecting Ned not to fall all over himself would be asking too much at this point. And they're willing to pay him whatever money he wants to make ... but there's a catch.

That would be the whole "length of contract" thing.

One person who's spoken to Dodgers people suggested that the team is considering proposing a contract that may come close to matching Alex Rodriguez's record $27.5-million average annual salary but on a much shorter term, perhaps only two years. That person hinted he could see the Dodgers even exceeding A-Rod's salary, as long as the length of the deal was to their liking.

Dodgers GM Ned Colletti said he didn't want to say too much about their thinking until after the team had a chance to meet with Ramirez's agent, Scott Boras. But Collettti did say, "We don't have too many six-year deals,'' a reference to Ramirez's own public proclamations that he is shooting for a six-year deal. The Dodgers actually have no six-year deals; but they don't have any other players like Ramirez, either.

That's nice and all, Ned, but it also doesn't change the fact that Man-Ram just went off for a torrid stretch of baseball to close out a contract year, proving to everyone that he is still very much a dangerous hitter. And that he wants to get paid.

Now, since he wants a six year deal (i.e. last big contract), I don't see him jumping all over this offer immediately. However, there is some upside to what Colletti would propose. Los Angeles loves Manny, and Manny apparently loves L.A. So there's that. Manny would get a ton of cash, with the opportunity to make more in two years.

Of course, he won't be able to get that six year deal in 2011, but he'll at least be good for one more contract, meaning that he might actually end up making more than he would over the course of a sixer signed right now. Then again, his agent is Scott Boras, so expecting anything rational to happen that doesn't max out his money now is probably a bit of a stretch.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

10-23-2008 @ 1:10PM

dodger4evr57 said...

here we go with the same old ,i dont want to sign him to 6yr deal,when you are cleaning house you qickly find out that,there are alot of things that i can resell,and pick up some extra change,well the same goes for colletti,man up and make the deal,also mc court you need to man up and be the owner that we lond time dodgers fans thought you were,ever since the omalleys sold the prize gem of LA,its been tarnished with so called owners that have the so called intrest of the fans and city,well how naive weve become but sooner or later ,we the fans cant get fooled no longer ,so if you really want to satisfy the thirst of the fans then i know that you will get the deal done, and if not then we as true fans of the dodgers ,as the who sang teh song "we wont be fooled again"

10-23-2008 @ 12:41PM

bedrock said...

Sox will take him back for 15 a year..Oh that's fifteen dollars that's about what he's worth...Fugin slacker that he is

10-23-2008 @ 2:00PM

wilson said...

LA would be a fool to sign manny to a big contract for 6 yrs. 2 or 3 yrs maybe , but not six. The guys likely to blow a fuse anytime. Get in on the good young players coming up ( dirt cheap ).

10-24-2008 @ 10:46AM

michaela said...

This old woman agrees with Wilson. Tired of seeing these high prices show boats. There's alot of talent in the young kids just look at the Phillies and Rays. Glad to see these two in the World Series, no hupla, no cocky-ness, just young talent having fun! pssst...."Go Phillies"

10-23-2008 @ 4:59PM

Darren said...

Sign him to no longer than 3 yrs,they need that big bat in the lineup!

10-23-2008 @ 4:36PM

Martin said...

Manny is a great hitter, but if you look at the records of the great hitters, other than Bonds (and you know why that is), they all started going downhill when they turned about 36-38. The Dodgers already have a couple of horrible contracts (Jason Schmidt, Andruw Jones) and don't need another one. Offer him a lot of money for two years and if some other team is willing to give him a longer term contract, let him go, and use that money to pick up a top-of-the-line pitcher. After all, good pitching beats good hitting most of the time.

10-23-2008 @ 7:00PM

Justin said...

Give him 4 yrs. for the same money he wanted for 6. You know they are going to make their money back on him because he is a fan favorite. The Dodgers need a big bat like his and look what he has done for the teams attitude. Bring him back to LA.

10-23-2008 @ 7:09PM

Len said...

After next year Manny will be a defensive liability...face it he is borderline now. He belongs in the AL where he can DH for 4 years. Look for him at the Algonquin bar next year. Yanks will pay him and he has always sought the stripes. Bye Lala land it was nice.

10-23-2008 @ 7:45PM

M. Anthony H said...

Manny Ramirez has turned into one of the greediest players ever. I use to like Manny when he played for Cleveland. Since then he has turned into a premodonna that wont even run hard to first base, 4 times a game, for 25 mil a year. You can keep him. I would take a Grady Sizemore or a Carl Crawford in my outfield any day. They always play hard, they play good defense, steal bases and they will run hard to first base everytime and do it all for a lot less money, with a lot less headaches too. They should send Manny back to working in a kitchen.

10-24-2008 @ 12:41AM

j erry oliver said...

i think boston was wrong putting manny on the block year after year give him 30 millon for 4 years idont blame him for not busting his balls in boston love you manny la will be awinner with manny

10-24-2008 @ 2:51PM

sam said...

Again,
If Manny didn't deliver we wouldn't have these discussions. Manny deserves every penny he gets. He is a hitter that would have benefited the Red Sox this year. They jacked themselves up by not trying harder to keep him around, enough said.

Next up is LA and the foresight to contract him as a viable player and icon, to which they benefited from not only on the playing field but in the business arena. As I said before, he is a cash cow and a craftsman on the field, he delivers the plays and the finances to produce a great lineup for any team.

If you are to call anyone greedy its the MLB owners and investors who have proven to have no loyalty. Manny is a good business man who looks out after himself and his family, that is the least that should be expected from him.

The whiners who think that he is a pre-madonna, you are naive, Manny is a great baseball player who is a class act on and off the field. If LA delivers the cash they will be doing themselves and baseball a favor, by keeping Manny.

10-24-2008 @ 12:18PM

Manny is by far one of the best hitters in baseball. LA needs that big bat, he is a fan favorite, he's brought the team together, given them spirit, they laugh, play music, have fun and many of them have said they have learned alot from him in just 2 months. Give him the money, bring him back to LA!!

10-28-2008 @ 12:46PM

richard said...

despite all the negativity that manny has brought upon himself he is still one of the greatest hitters in the game. being a lifelong dodger fan and seeing this team constantly struggle year after year to put runs on the board, it is a no brainer to bring him back. 3 yrs @ 80 mill i think would make it happen. manny haters can make arguments about how he is in the decline ,but i would bet my last dollar the he will still avg over .300 /30/100 in the next three years....ned do what a takes dont forget who saved your #@#from being canned

10-24-2008 @ 4:50PM

roy said...

Sam, you're kidding me right? A class act ON the field?? Exactly how may of his Red Sox games have you watched?? Put the bong down. And i beleive the word is primadonna. Pre-madonna is the musical act that comes on the stage before she does. Is Manny a great hitter? You bet. But Manny is and always will be an all about me, selfish, hustle when I'm in the mood punk. Pull your head outta there will ya. You might actually see the real Manny.

10-24-2008 @ 6:49PM

jOSEPH MERCURIO said...

Just look where A-Rod got the Yankees!

10-25-2008 @ 12:12PM

I have to defend Manny. People say Manny is all about Manny. Now that may be true because he wants to be the best, and keep his numbers up, he works hard at it. If you think he's going to go out there and slack off all the time, you're wrong. Because as people have said he thinks to much of himself, and that's exactly why he is not going to slack off and let his numbers drop. He is a very gifted hitter. Pay him the $ LA !!!

10-25-2008 @ 2:01PM

every body deserves a second chance at whatever has happened in the past,the past is the past,now is a new beginning and the dodgers would be stupid,no i mean STUPID,not to sign him,besides joe and manny have a good relationship as far as baseball is concerned,for all involved in tis thing all the way around ,it would benifir everyone ,from manny to the team and especially the fans that have been a fan since maurry wills days,if any of you were watching any of the games with manny you could see the kids with there dreed locks wig on and it was the majority of the kids in the stands,now to see such enthusiasem,it would benifit eveybody,we are not blind andwe are definately not stupid

10-25-2008 @ 5:37PM

DEBBO said...

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE HIM NEXT YEAR ON MY DODGER TEAM. GET RID OF ALL THEOSE OTHER LOSERS!!!! JONES AND SCHMIDT!!!!!!!

10-25-2008 @ 8:07PM

TED said...

A 2 YEAR DEAL FOR 54 MILLION IS THE ANSWER.... THIS WAY MANNY WILL HAVE TO PRODUCE TO GET THE REST OF THE MONEY HE WANTS...A 6 YEAR DEAL AND HE WOULD RELAX TO MUCH.....THE DODGERS HAVE NO CHOICE, NOBODY WILL DO THE JOB LIKE MANNY....