The Manny Problem

Two Years for 45 million dollars. One year for 25 million dollars. These are the two reported contracts Manny Ramirez has turned down from the Los Angeles Dodgers. We all know Manny’s resume. A .396 batting average through 53 games to lead the Dodgers to the playoffs. World Series Championships in 2004 and 2007 with the Red Sox. A future 1st Ballot Hall of Famer, who will likely eclipse 600 home runs and come near 3000 hits all without the steriod cloud hanging over him.

We also know the negative side of Manny. Tanking his final season in Boston to force a trade to Los Angeles, the fake injuries, the clubhouse disputes, and the icing on the cake shoving Red Sox traveling secretary Jack McCormick to the ground because he couldn’t accommodate Manny’s request of 16 tickets for a Red Sox-Astros game. By the Way Mr. McCormick is 64 years old.

Taking all this into account however and what you have is still one heck of a ballplayer (when he wants to be) and a ballplayer who will be paid a great deal of money. Now I understand a player's competitive nature doesn’t end on the field. Whether its baseball, basketball, or video games; I'm sure these guys want to be the best in everything they do. The same goes for their contracts. I’m sure Manny Ramirez feels that he should be one of the highest paid players in the game, because that’s part of his competitive nature. Being the best also means getting paid the most. Turn back the clock 3 years and this would be true and Manny would almost certainly be signed right now to whatever contract he wanted, lets say 4 years and 100 million dollars.

Unfortunately for Manny and many other Americans, it is 2009, and the country is in a serious economic recession. The word recession probably means very little to Manny Ramirez. He’s made well over 100 million dollars in his career, he’ll probably have more than enough money to take care of himself and his family for the next 50 years so this next contract shouldn’t really matter. But it does. It actually matters more than he realizes, I think. Lets take a look at his most likely employer for 2009 the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers play in the state of California. A state which is in serious economic trouble. California has 145 Billion dollars in expenditures through 2010. The expected revenue through that time is only 100 Billion. Meaning a 45 Billion Dollar deficit for the state in the next 2 years. Combine that with the taxpayers, who are losing jobs at an alarmingly high rate, and that spells trouble. People who are struggling to find employment or pay their mortgage or put food on the table certainly wont be going to any Dodgers games anytime soon.

But that’s not the issue, the Dodgers will sell tickets. The issue is how do the Dodgers justify to their state, and their fan base, bringing back a player who’s turned down such a large sum of money. Especially in light of their states economic problems. Can the fans really cheer for someone who turned down 20 Million dollars when the unemployment rate in California is at its highest in 15 years. When in December alone more than 78,000 people lost their jobs. How does Manny Ramirez justify turning down a 20 Million dollar contract. More so how can the Dodgers justify bringing him back at this point?

Looking at the Dodgers, like all teams, they have holes but unlike most teams they have some money to spend. For the 25 million they offered Manny they could most likely sign Adam Dunn, Juan Cruz, and either Randy Wolf or Ben Sheets. Now granted, none of those 3 players have the marketability of a Manny Ramirez but with those 3 players you have filled 3 glaring needs on your club. In a very weak National League West those signings barring injury should win you the division. Dodgers owner Frank McCourt needs to let his fan base know that he is willing to spend the money to put a winning team on the field but that he can't justify Manny’s demands in this economy.

I think letting Manny walk will actually make the Dodgers look better in the court of public opinion rather than signing him to 20+ million. The game is for the fans, and if I'm a Dodgers fan, I can't justify spending my hard earned money to go to a game to watch a player who cried all winter over only being offered a 25 million dollar contract. Mr. McCourt please take a stand and let this clown walk away and get his money from someone else, trust me you’ll be better off.

-Robb Lennahan