AP source: Dodgers make new offer to Ramirez

[February 26, 2009]  LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The Los Angeles Dodgers made a fourth bid for Manny Ramirez on Wednesday, this time offering the enigmatic slugger a $25 million, one-year contract with a $20 million player option for 2010.

The player option came at the request of Ramirez's agent, Scott Boras, according to a person with knowledge of the negotiations who requested anonymity because talks are ongoing.

The latest proposal is similar in dollars to Los Angeles' first offer to the free-agent left fielder this offseason, a $45 million, two-year deal with a buyout or a club option that was ignored by Boras and later withdrawn by the team.

This offer, however, gives Ramirez a chance to determine his fate in 2010. He could stay with the Dodgers for a $20 million salary or decline the option and become a free agent again.

Dodgers spokesman Josh Rawitch confirmed that general manager Ned Colletti, owner Frank McCourt and Boras met Wednesday in Los Angeles and an offer was made, but Rawitch declined to provide further details.

The Los Angeles Times first reported details of the offer on its Web site Wednesday.

Ramirez rejected a one-year, $25 million proposal from Los Angeles three weeks ago. The team also offered him salary arbitration in December, but Ramirez turned that down, too.

The Dodgers lost their exhibition opener 5-3 to the Chicago Cubs in Mesa, Ariz., earlier in the day. Los Angeles manager Joe Torre said he last spoke with Ramirez about three weeks ago.

"He seemed to be in a good place in his mind. ... And certainly we want him. Just from my experience, I think he wants to be here," Torre said. "I think it's just a matter of working things out and hopefully we can."

Ramirez, who turns 37 in May, was initially thought to be seeking a four- or five-year deal starting at $25 million per season.

The length of the deal has seemingly been the sticking point between the Dodgers and Ramirez, who created a buzz upon arriving in Los Angeles from Boston at the July 31 trade deadline.

He hit .396 with 17 homers, 53 RBIs, 36 runs scored, 74 hits and 35 walks in 53 regular-season games, leading the Dodgers to the NL West title.

Ramirez was even more potent in the postseason, batting .520 with four homers, 10 RBIs, nine runs scored and 11 walks in eight playoff games.

[Associated Press; By BETH HARRIS]

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.