While the Dodgers could be forgiven for simply waiting for Manny Ramirez to come back to them on his hands and knees given that there don't appear to be any other teams interested in him, they apparently have chosen not to do so.
Although the Dodgers clearly haven't closed the door on re-signing Ramirez, they have expressed an interest in two other high-profile, free agent outfielders, Bobby Abreu and Adam Dunn. In doing so, club officials have sent a message to Ramirez and his agent, Scott Boras, that they aren't sitting back and waiting for Ramirez to come back to them. The Dodgers offered Ramirez a two-year, $45 million deal with a $15 million club option in late October, but that deal "expired," in the words of general manager Ned Colletti, on the day Ramirez became free to negotiate with other clubs. To date, it isn't believed that Ramirez has negotiated with any other clubs or that he has received any other formal offers.
The fact the Dodgers are pursuing other outfielders is surprising given that Colletti has said that even if the club doesn't re-sign Ramirez, he is comfortable with the four everyday-caliber outfielders the Dodgers still have: Andre Ethier, Matt Kemp, Andruw Jones and Juan Pierre. But there were reports Colletti was talking with the New York Mets about a possible trade involving the enigmatic Jones.
There also were reports shooting down reports of the Mets' interest in Jones. The only thing that is clear is that even if they do find someone willing to take Jones, the Dodgers would have to eat the vast majority of the $22.1 million still owed him.
