Manny Ramirez from La Times - Anne Cusack

So it seems like Manny is all I write about these days, but if you’ve read any sports website lately, that’s all they write about too.  It seems the Giants are back in it…but then their GM set the expectation today that they’re really not in it for the money or length people thing.

I recently wrote that Manny’s money could be used elsewhere, but today I was trying to put myself in Manny’s shoes.  The baseball world is scared of Manny being disappointed in the price or years, and therefore quitting in the middle of a contract.  The only way it seems that Manny is really going to be excited about his new deal is if he truly gets 4 years.  That’s what he wants, and if he gets it (even he knows it’s a little bit of a stretch), then he will start happy (I’ll come back to finishing happy later).  I know when I was looking for a job a few years ago, I had my number, and when they gave it to me, I went in happy and was ready to work.  There were higher expectations because it was a higher number than they initially wanted to give, but I did good work, and they weren’t disappointed in the end.

So here’s the question, how can the Dodgers safely give Manny 4 years?  I don’t think the real issue is money here.  25 mil for 4 years will pay itself off if the Dodgers get to the playoffs all 4 years.  Great article on SI.com on how Manny is one of the winningest players of all time.  Manny will bring people to the stadium, so the cost can be there.

The concern for the Dodgers is two-fold.  One his age.  He is 36.  At 40, how bad will his defense be?  Second, what happens if he is sick of LA after 2 years and wants out.  Then what?

So how do you compensate for these two?  Regarding age, you are limited.  He hasn’t had a lot of injuries, but he has had some.  You can’t really move him around the diamond, so he’ll still be in left field.

Regarding liking it in LA, that’s a wildcard because anything could change the circumstances.  If the fans turn on him because the Dodgers aren’t winning, or Manny is in a slump, then he may want out too.

The key factor here is that both sides need the opportunity to change if circumstances change.  I see the value of the Dodgers holding at least a limited trade clause if they need to trade him.  The problem then becomes the 25 mil per season.

Go with me on this one.  A 4 year deal worth 100 mil.  After year 2, and for every year after that, there is the ability to walk away for both sides.  It could be an opt out for Manny, or a cessation of contract for the Dodgers.  It will be hard for Manny to get 25 mil anywhere else as he ages, so there is incentive to stay.  For the Dodgers, they have an out if he doesn’t want to stay.

From Manny’s point of view, he won’t want to be dumped if he doesn’t want it.  Therefore, perhaps there is language that the only way the Dodgers can dump him is if he mutually wants out, he was injured and missed a certain number of games, or if there are at least 2 “incidents” during the year that lead to voiding of the contract.  These would be sticky to define, but I’m talking injury to Dodger staff or media, sitting out games due to “false injury,” etc. (Basically similar to what happened in Boston.)

The other option I thought about would be if the money somehow rolled forward based on the first 2 years.  Say it is a 4 year deal worth 100 mil, but if the Dodgers make the World Series the first year, he gets say 35 mil.  Similar the second year.  The Dodgers would have more money due to the World Series attendance, and it would pull money off the 100 mil in case there needed to be a trade in years 3 or 4.

Bottom line, Manny wants guarenteed money, but even he knows circumstances can change.  I really do think he wants to play for the Dodgers, so I bet he’d be more flexible on these finer details if he really does get 4 years and 100 mil.

Let me know your thoughts.  I think we need to help Ned with some options here to help get this deal done.

Manny Ramirez from the San Francisco Chronicle - Jed Jacobsohn Getty Images

The Giants and Dodgers went up the hill to catch Manny Ramirez.  The Giants and Dodgers came tumbling down and Manny came smiling after…

So this whole discussion of Manny with the Dodgers or Giants is hilarious.  It’s all people talk about here in San Francisco, but no one really knows what’s going on.  (Do you ever wonder if the GM’s and Scott Boras laugh at all us peons trying to figure them out?)

Good article in the Chronicle on what people think up here on him.  44% say he should come, but at a short contract.  Sound like anyone we know in LA?

Funny post by Mike Scioscia’s Tragic Illness.  It really is weird how some people are “convinced” that there has been an offer, where there are others who are “convinced” that nothing is going down.

Either way – if all the newspapers and nightly news shows are covering it up here, something’s going down. Mark my word Dodger fans – the Giant’s are in this game. They would love to steal Manny and Boras would love to show Colletti how bad he felt the Dodgers first offer was.  At the same time, Boras wants top dollar, so he won’t have any problem with the Giant’s entering the ring only so the Dodgers can win the fight.

I found this video by a senior sports writer for the SF Chronicle, and I think he’s got it right.  He’s thinks the Giant’s are listening, but no offers yet.  He has a real interesting ending.  I’ll give you a hint…it’s good for the Blue. 

Manny Ramirez on front page of SF Chronicle Sports - 1/4/08

As a follow up to my previous post, now things are really getting crazy.  Opened up the Sports section today to find Manny staring back at me.  The Giants are in the hunt and there are rumors that they’ve already made a 3 yr offer with an option. 

Here’s the article from the San Francisco Chronicle.  It’s a good one that really follows what I last wrote.  He is a gamble for the Giant’s just like he is for the Dodgers.  He brings lots of baggage, but he can hit and he will sell tickets.  Even more, it puts the Giant’s at the top of the division.  The bottom line he writes is that he is a worthy gamble. 

I  think Dodger fans better watch out because I bet the Giant’s are more in this than we think.  Coletti is going to have to pony up because Boras has found another suitor.  The Giant’s have new ownership and it wouldn’t surprise me if he grew up with the Dodger’s rivalry and now wants to snag the Dodger’s prize. 

Back to work after the holiday – I’m sure all I will here about are the Giant’s going after Manny.

Picture of Greg Maddux from Sports Illustrated

So I love this article on Greg Maddux from ESPN:

It was truly not hard to like the guy.  He wasn’t the ace, but he was a great addition to the Dodgers twice.  As much as Ned Colletti receives flak, I do like his philosophy of bringing in the known veterans for the young players, as well as for the fans.  I and others went to the game, just to see Greg Maddux in a Dodgers uniform when he first came.  Players like him, and Nomar Garciaparra, and even Jeff Kent, are just strong players that people like to see.  I’m convinced that the Dodgers will be a strong player for Randy Johnson this year too, for that same reason.  He brings in the fans, helps the young pups, and can put up solid numbers.  The price is lower and it’s a short term good deal.

My favorite memory of Maddux as a Dodger will forever be him pitching in relief in the playoffs.  The Dodgers were trying to finally go somewhere and knowing he was available in the pen was a cool relief as a fan.  It was just cool to know you had a future hall of famer to help button it up.  He was classy and everyone one agrees on it.

Tip #1 for the Dodgers:  Hire Maddux as a consultant for Billingsley and the young pitchers.  He was a great help for them last year in the playoffs.

Tip #2 for Derek Lowe:  Put Maddux on retainer to watch every game you pitch and then call talk about it.  Derek’s numbers got better both times Maddux was on the bench with him, and he shouldn’t miss part of the reason.

Maddux knew the game and has a great legacy.

I get starved for Dodger information in the off-season, and this is a pretty good article.  It’s all speculation, but it’s what I think most fans would be fine with.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/baseball/mlb/10/22/heyman.manny/index.html