Dodgers Throw Manny A Curveball: One Year Offer

This is not what Manny Ramirez and his agent Scott Boras pictured. They envisioned a line around the block (maybe a small, wealthy block) to sign one of the greatest pure hitters of his generation.

Instead, they now have just one offer on the table.

The Los Angeles Dodgers made Manny Ramirez a one-year, $25 million offer Monday, according to a baseball source, a substantial departure from the two-year, $45 million offer they extended in November at the general manager meetings.The two-year offer was rejected by Ramirez’s agent, Scott Boras, and pulled from the table by the Dodgers several weeks later.

This could be a starting point for negotiations. Or, it could be that the Dodgers realized that the market for Manny Ramirez in these economic times is Sahara dry (nobody else has bothered to even offer a contract), and they can get away with a one-year hardball offer. Either way, Boras is reportedly taking this offer to Manny (after mocking and not doing that with the first offer).

The deal has a lot of risks on both sides. Manny would be betting that the economic climate will change by next winter and that another year of impressive set of numbers at the plate will have someone willing to open the purse strings for a longer deal. The Dodgers are risking that someone doesn’t swoop in with a multi-year offer that Manny takes in part to spite the Dodgers.

If Manny believes things could be different next winter, then this might be the way to go.  But when your agent has filled your head with dreams of Bonds-like contracts, giving that up is a hard thing to do. Not that $25 million shouldn’t help soothe the pain.

Copyright FREEL - NBC Local Media
Contact Us