Boras, Manny Reject Dodgers' Latest Offer
Ramirez Snubs $45 Million, Two-Year Contract, LA's Fourth Offer
Mar 1, 2009
Negotiations between the Dodgers and Boras are continuing.
The offer included a player option on the second year so Ramirez could opt out if he so desired. According to the Los Angeles Times, the contract called for a flat $10 million salary for both 2009 and 2010, and $25 million in deferred payments after the 2010 season.
The remaining money would have been paid in 2011, 2012 and 2013, with $10 million forthcoming in 2011 and 2012 and the remaining $5 million paid in 2013, all without interest.
That's the rub, said a source close to the negotiations. By deferring the $25 million until after the life of the contract, Manny could lose as much as $3 million in interest, and be subject to a larger amount of income tax, wrote Providence Journal reporter Daniel Barbarisi.
Four Years or Nothing!
Ramirez, who turns 37 in May, has repeatedly said he wants a four-year deal, something that seems out of the question now.
Boras reportedly countered the Dodgers most recent offer with a request for a flat, two-year, $45 million request with a player option for the second year. Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said he was mystified at the stance taken by Ramirez and Boras.
"The deferred component was part of the deal from the very beginning," Colletti said.
The contract impasse triggered a war of words between the club and Boras, both whom sent out press releases hammering the other side. The Dodgers charged that Boras rejected the most recent offer outright; Boras claimed he never turned down the offer, but made two counter proposals, neither of which he'd gotten any response from the team.
Boras, Dodgers Have Strained Relationship
The relationship between Los Angeles owner Frank McCourt and Boras has been strained since Boras client J.D. Drew opted out of his $55 million, five-year contract with the club following the 2006 season. He also represented the Dodgers first-round draft choice in 2005, Luke Hochevar, whom the club failed to sign. Instead, Hochevar re-entered the draft in 2006, ultimately signing with the Kansas City Royals.
Boras also represented free agent bust Andruw Jones last year, who imploded after signing with the team. The Dodgers recently released Jones despite having to eat the remainder of his $36.2 million, tw-year contract.
McCourt stressed the team would not negotiate against itself. The only other team that has indicated any interest in Ramirez has been the San Francisco Giants, although many baseball pundits seem to believe that the Giants really aren't all that intent on paying Ramirez what he wants.
