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Well, looks like the Dodgers aren't offering Manny enough years. Say one thing about Colleti and Mc Court, they don't offer long contracts. Even when they sign a bust like Jason Schmidt, they only gave him three years, which means he's off the books after this one. I don't think they'll budge on the Manny thing, with 2 years and 45 mil. Maybe they will add on a year or something, but not much more than that. However, there are not many big bats on the free agent market, and the Dodgers will have a hole in their outfield if they don't do something about it. Yes, you can find through a trade a decent outfielder, but there are not many on the free agent market. So that creates a dilemma. Suck it up and sign Manny, trade for an outfielder and give up precious prospects, or sign/trade someone to fill the gap. Either way, it's time for the Dodgers to become a true contender again.  Flirting with the wildcard and a .500 record won't cut it anymore.

On the free agent market, there isn't much beyond Manny. Bobby Abreu wants to play in New York again, Ken Griffey is broken down and probably wouldn't want to play here anyway.  Adam Dunn may be a good option- he won't cost as much, will hit alot of bombs,, gets on at a Manny-like rate, and isn't represented by Boras. There are other servicable options, but servicable won't cut it this time around.

As far as a trade goes, there was a rumor of the Dodgers and Yanks talking about a  Matt Kemp- Robinson Cano trade, which would be ridiculous. The Dodgers would have to be high on crack to do that. Cano is decent, but is and never will be the player that Kemp is. On top of that, there are a ton of decent free agent middle infielders out there (Orlando Hudson). Fact is, though, if they fail to sign Manny, Teixeira or perhaps Dunn, they will have to get a big bat through a trade, and that may mean giving up a Kemp or a Russel Martin.

Either way, McCourt and Coletti need to put up or shut up. Everything out there is a risk. Giving Manny too many dollars or years may end up making thhe Strawberry or Kevin Brown signings look like modest mis-calculations in comparison, but it also may turn the Dodgers into bonafide contenders for years to come. If they can't get him, they should make a run at Adam Dunn, or go for a trade that may cost them. They need a big bat and a pesence in the middle of the order, and either way they will have to put up or shut up. This is the freaking Dodgers we're talking about, not some middle market semi-contender.