The Los Angeles Dodgers have apparently offered Manny Ramirez another two-year deal, again worth in the neighborhood of $45 million.

If you recall, Manny and his “super-agent,” Scott Boras, already turned this offer down, along with a one-year, $25 million deal and an abundance of other deals that most definitely pay more than the $0 he is collecting right now.

For whatever reason, the Dodgers have kept their bid up at this price, despite the fact that no other teams in baseball are courting Ramirez.

Apparently, this deal is structured differently than the last one, with a player-option added for the second year. So really, it’s a one-year, $25 million deal that Ramirez can extend to two-years, $45 million if he wants to stay and is happy with those terms. If they feel the market has improved in a year, Ramirez can opt out.

With no other teams really in the running, I’m not quite sure why the Dodgers would give in to Boras’ demands, but it appears that they are doing whatever it takes to get this guy back in a Dodgers uniform. Personally, I think the Dodgers could make it longer without Manny than Manny (and his money-hungry agent) could make it without a paycheck.

If someone in baseball has the balls to play hardball with Boras, they’ll win (see: Rodriguez, Alex – 2008). But nobody has the balls to stand up to him. The market clearly isn’t allowing for the contract that Boras insisted Ramirez was going to get, so why should the Dodgers be giving in at all. Drop it to two-years, $35 million with no player-option. Take it or leave it, no negotiations. You do that and I bet you have Manny in uniform by opening day.

Instead, yet another team will likely give in to Scott Boras’ overvalued demands, thus driving up next year’s free agent market and putting “lucky” bidders in financial distress. Well done, Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti and owner Frank McCourt.

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