Poor Multi-Millionaire

There's been a lot of talk on the Manny front this week so it seemed like a good time for a little rundown on what's being discussed.

Let's start ten days ago just for a complete roundup...

January 19th
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Ken Rosenthal reports that the Dodgers have roughly 50 million in payroll flexibility assuming they're aiming for a similar payroll to last season. You have to imagine they were holding half of that for Manny. But the other half? Beats me. They're not likely to spend $25 mil on pitching at this stage of the off-season in my opinion. I'm guessing they'll come up far short of the 50 mil which'll get them worlds of shit from the fans but... no point on spending money for no reason, right? Save it just in case you can find a trade mid-season.

Rosenthal also speculates that the Giants have one eye on Manny but are really looking to fill their "big hitter" role in a trade - perhaps Prince Fielder. Makes sense. They do have some talented prospects to work with - probably more prospects than money.

Dylan Hernandez also reports that day that there's basically a stalemate between the Dodgers and Scott Boras. The Dodgers are holding firm on their two-year $25 mil offer so that they don't bid against themselves. Boras is holding firm on his desire for a four or five year deal. So... stalemate. But apparently Boras and Ned Coletti had a 15 minute conversation the day prior... so that's... something?


January 20th
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SI's Tom Verducci reports that although the Giants aren't in the market for an outfielder, they'd make an exception for Manny. But they're not willing to enter a bidding war for him meaning they're looking for the big bargain too.

January 22nd
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Ken Rosenthal says the Giants might consider Manny in a high dollar offer because they have a lot of low-cost younger players right now. It's a similar situation that the Dodgers find themselves in except a lot better since they don't have albatrosses like Jones and Pierre hanging on them.

SI's Jon Heyman believes the Dodgers will eventually bid against themselves and go to three years to land Manny [which is what I've suggested for a lonnnnnng while now.] I still believe if you stick him with a 2 year deal, you just might not like what you end up with.

A little fly in the ointment popped up this day when the Mets CEO made headlines by stating that Minaya has never asked if he could try to sign Manny. Obviously, the Mets getting into this would potentially be a game-changer. Some hopeful Mets fans see this as a public signal to Boras to try to get the Mets involved - like he hasn't already been trying for months.

The final piece of Manny-related news [sorta] that day was Kobe making headlines by offering to play LF for the Dodgers. Yes, it was a joke. But I bet it'd put some asses in the seats.


January 23rd
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ESPN's Jayson Stark says the Dodgers intend to finish up with their pitching staff before really looking to finish the Manny situation. Again, that makes sense because that'll really let you know how much financial flexibility is left.


January 26th
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Things picked up a little bit after a few days of silence. The day started with Bill Shaikin saying the Dodgers were still waiting for a counter-offer from Boras on their 2 year deal offered before. Boras is such an ass. Apparently Coletti doesn't believe Boras repeatedly re-starting his "dresm deal" constitutes negotiating. Like him or not, Ned's on target here. All of LA wants Manny but if the price isn't right, I'll take a season of Adam Dunn for half the price.

Later in the day, Jon Heyman reiterates that Manny still wants the 4 or 5 year deal at $25 mil per. Another baseball exec is quoted in the same article as saying he believes the Dodgers and Manny are in the "fourth inning" of negotiations. No idea what the fuck that means.


January 27th
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Rosenthal tries his hand at matchmaker a few weeks early when he not only speculates the Giants would be a bad fit for Manny considering the ballpark and questionable supporting cast but that a good compromise with LA might be two years with a third year option and no-trade protection for the first two season. I can live with that as well. It's bidding against ourselves a bit but I'd rather have a happy Manny than "Manny Being Manny."


January 28th
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Boras made headlines today with "news" that most people universally shat upon as being total and complete bullshit. So, first he claimed that "the train had left the station" with the Manny negotiations in progress with the Dodgers and other mystery clubs he won't name. He also proclaimed that Manny would be signed by Spring Training [which I kinda think is true.] The Mets manager piped in by saying he'd love Manny on his team but apparently the manager and the CEO being interested isn't enough - hopefully.


January 29th
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Jayson Stark kicks us off by speculating that Manny could wait until March to sign. God, I hope not. I can't take much more Manny Watch. He also says that Adam Dunn is waiting for Manny to sign because Dunn prefers LA. I'm starting to think it may be time to turn up the pressure on Boras. Well, once we have a starting pitcher or two anyways.

But here's my favorite story and the reason I decided to write this tonight...

Albert Pujols says that he can't understand why no one has signed Manny and that his good friend has told him that "nobody wants him" or some such. Pujols went as far as to exchange numbers with Tony LaRussa and Manny in hopes Manny would give some kind of discount to the Cards. The Cards GM says they're not interested either.

So, Mr. Pujols, as talented as he is, can't comprehend why a team might be scared of signing Manny? Really?

As much as I love watching Manny the player and I enjoyed meeting Manny the person, even his biggest fan has to admit he's a powderkeg always dangerously close to a spark. You just don't know what Manny you'll get from night to night. Dodger fans who are calling for Coletti's head to sign him could just as easily be calling for Coletti's head in August when Manny has a phantom knee injury because global warming has left field in LA around 86 degrees.

Production = dollars in baseball... usually. But even the most desperate of offense-starved teams has to give Manny a second look.

Can you blame them? Really?