Re-signing Manny Ramirez would be bad deal for Dodgers

The future Hall of Famer has been a great two-month rental, but at 36 and with a turbulent history, he'd be a poor long-term investment for Dodgers.

Bill Plaschke

September 28, 2008

His dreadlocks glistening in champagne, his ears ringing with love, Manny Ramirez grabbed a microphone in front of the Dodgers dugout.

After spending two months taking Dodgers fans to a place of excitement and wonder, on Thursday night he finally gave that place a name.

"Mannywood!" he shouted.

It is. It has been. Every inch of it.

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Seemingly from the moment he arrived Aug. 1, Manny Ramirez has filled Dodger Stadium with energy and imagination and hope. He has stolen breaths and exhausted lungs and carried a team.

Mannywood is everything found in Hollywood.

Including the part about not being quite real.

Acquiring Ramirez for prospects is already one of the best trades in Dodgers history.

But if the Dodgers allow these two months to sucker them into signing him to the rich long-term deal he will demand, the trade will be one of their worst.

For the long-term future of the organization, Manny Ramirez is not Mr. Right, he is only Mr. Right Now.

He is a brilliant, Hall of Fame hitter. He is also a 36-year-old man with aching knees who will want the Dodgers to pay him until he is beyond 40.

He has feasted on National League pitching, loved National League ballparks. But because of his fielding problems, he will soon be needing the comfort of an American League designated-hitter role.

He has generated enough ticket and merchandise sales in two months to earn the Dodgers more than $10 million. But he is going to be asking for at least twice that much per season.

He has been the veteran leader both in the clubhouse and on the field, easing tensions, relaxing swings, turning up the music, making winning fun. But what he's done in 15 minutes can't change who he's been for 16 years.

Manny may be a solid baseball citizen while pursuing a new contract, but Manny is still Manny.

He punched a teammate. He knocked over a 64-year-old club employee. He feigned injury to miss two important series. And that was just this season.

The Boston Red Sox, home of baseball's premier front office, were so disgusted by him that they paid the $7 million remaining on his contract to help get rid of him.

They also potentially gave up two future top draft picks that would have been awarded if he had left them as a free agent this winter to get rid of him now.

And they were right. Just look at the standings. The Red Sox have actually played better since he departed, going 33-18.

His similar positive effect on the Dodgers has also been no surprise.