Manny Ramirez rejected the Dodgers' $25M offer last week.

Does anybody else think the reason the Dodgers haven't signed Manny Ramirez might be because team owner Frank McCourt is cheap?

Ramirez helped the Dodgers make the playoffs last season with a torrid final two months, and in the process, he made McCourt a lot of money. Remember, it didn't cost McCourt anything because the Red Sox were so eager to get rid of Ramirez ... they agreed to pay his salary for the remainder of the season after trading him to Los Angeles. So, the Dodgers should share some of the revenue that Ramirez generated for the team with the slugger.

George Steinbrenner was a great Yankees owner because he put most of the money back into the team. Dodgers fans should expect that from their owner: The money is there and Manny showed he could still produce last season.

McCourt and Dodgers GM Ned Colletti keep saying they want Manny. If this is true, they should make the deal instead of toying with agent Scott Boras. A three-year deal valued at $75 million will get it done. Throw in an option for a fourth year with a $5 million buyout and put a clause in that would allow the Dodgers to void the contract if Ramirez displays any acts of insubordination.

"We'll give you what you want," Colletti should tell Boras, "but you’ve got to give us what we need. Do we have a deal?"

Boras will give the Yankees and Mets the last shot. But eventually, like most of his big-name clients, Manny will go to the highest bidder. If the Dodgers are as serious as they say about wanting Manny, they will get a deal done. It shouldn't be this complicated.