Welcome to Mannywood

If you don't know by now, Manny Ramirez and the Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed on a 2-year $45 million contract. Owner Frank McCourt should be thankful that Manny didn’t receive serious offers from any other team. You see, the Dodgers need Manny Ramirez if they want to contend in the National League West. In a division with no clear dominant team, any team with Ramirez instantly becomes a contender. What Ramirez brought to the Dodgers last July was a big bat (he hit the 3rd most Home Runs of any Dodger last season and he only played in 53 games) and also a winning swagger to the team. Ramirez’s laid back attitude can loosen up a young team like the Dodgers who have huge expectations and can keep the focus on baseball. He will also provide protection in the lineup to guys like Andre Ethier, Matt Kemp and James Loney, while taking the pressure off of Russell Martin offensively. And when it comes down to it, would you rather have Manny Ramirez or Juan Pierre playing left field for your team?

So if McCourt wants a World Series, he should have offered Ramirez a serious contract months ago instead of just agreeing to a deal now. Ramirez will also bring more fans to Dodger Stadium which will increase revenue and provide Ramirez his $45 million. With Ramirez close to an agreement with the Dodgers, they become not only a contender for the NL West but also for the World Series. And with an agreement close we can soon stop hearing about how greedy Ramirez and agent Scott Boras are and instead hear the always interesting takes on how Ramirez will destroy the Dodger’s chemistry and clubhouse atmosphere...its just Manny being Manny (I had to fit that in somewhere).