When Dodgers' Season Ends, the Real Game Begins

Rest assured, teams are interested in Manny Ramirez. Their biggest concern is not money, but the length of contract that Ramirez will require as a free agent. Man-Ram clearly plays better when motivated. And he turns 37 next May.

One general manager told me that if he were in position to sign Ramirez, he would offer him a two-year deal for between $25 million and $30 million per season, with a vesting option for a third year.

Ramirez wants at least four years. Several clubs would love to jump into the bidding if the economy depresses his market — imagine Ramirez with the Blue Jays, the A's or (whoa) the Rays. The top players, though, figure to get their money.

Unlike Dodgers fans, baseball people remember why the Red Sox traded Ramirez, but all it takes is one owner to make a deal. Agent Scott Boras' sales pitch will go something like this:

- Manny was unhappy in Boston; he performed brilliantly with the Dodgers when he was happy and will do the same for his next team.

- Manny is a historic player who is driven by his quest to be remembered as one of the all-time greats.

- Manny is a proven postseason performer who helps teams win championships.

- Manny sells tickets and increases merchandise sales.

-No matter what they say publicly, the Mets and Yankees are certain to investigate the possibility of signing Ramirez as they prepare to open new ballparks.

The Phillies, who need to either re-sign Pat Burrell or find a comparable right-handed hitting replacement, would be another possible fit. Ramirez is close with manager Charlie Manuel, though it's difficult to imagine team president David Montgomery, a conservative type, donning dreadlocks at Ramirez's introductory news conference.

I can hear Boras now: What team wouldn't want Manny Ramirez? He's right; many teams will. The only question is which club will jump. And how high.

The M's GM search: A wrong turn?

Barring a sudden reversal, the Mariners are almost certain to hire a first-time general manager — a move that already is being debated in baseball circles, considering that the team is coming off a 101-loss season.

An executive has to start somewhere, and perhaps one of the M's finalists will be the game's next great GM. But the job, while attractive, will be difficult, requiring a likely teardown. Prior experience would help.

Unfortunately for the M's, the market is thin.

The Padres would not allow Kevin Towers to leave. Brian Cashman signed a contract extension with the Yankees. The Cubs' Jim Hendry and Brewers' Doug Melvin are expected to reach new long-term deals soon.

If the M's expand their search to include more seasoned executives, they could look at former Astros GM Gerry Hunsicker, former Reds GM Wayne Krivsky and former Twins GM Terry Ryan. Of those, only Krivsky would have certain interest.

Even among unproven candidates, the M's were shut out on a number of fronts, either by those who declined interviews or were refused the chance by their current clubs. That list includes the Indians' Chris Antonetti, Tigers' Al Avila, White Sox's Rick Hahn, Red Sox's Jed Hoyer and A's David Forst.

Again, maybe the Mariners will find the next Theo Epstein or Andrew Friedman among the five candidates they have interviewed. But once they make their hire, M's fans will ask: "How is this person qualified to fix our sorry team?"

If the Mariners were hiring an experienced GM, they could provide a better answer.

The early days of the Flying Hawaiian

It's amazing that the Dodgers twice lost Shane Victorino in the Rule 5 draft — and twice were offered him back.

The first time, prior to the 2003 season, the Dodgers took back Victorino from the Padres. The second time, prior to the '05 season, they told the Phillies, "No, you keep him."

At the time, the Phillies didn't want Victorino in the majors, either — he showed five tools in spring training, former GM Ed Wade recalls, but not all at the same time.

Wade says the Phillies liked Victorino enough to keep him in their system, but they had to persuade him to accept an assignment to Class AAA rather than exercise his right to become a free agent.

As Wade recalls, manager Charlie Manuel and his staff liked Victorino, treated him well and communicated with him directly. And during that 2005 season, Victorino broke out at Class AAA.

The Dodgers, under then-GM Paul DePodesta, loved Victorino's speed and defensive ability, but never imagined he would hit consistently — and drive the ball with authority.

Mussina's choice

Friends of Yankees right-hander Mike Mussina are still convinced he will retire. One possible reason: Mussina fears that the Yankees will not be good enough next season for him to sufficiently chip away at the 30 victories he needs for 300.

Mussina, who turns 40 on Dec. 8, would consider playing for other teams near his home in Montoursville, Pa., but those teams either play in small ballparks (Phillies, Red Sox) or face their own competitive issues (Pirates, Orioles, Nationals, Indians). The Mets? Not happening.

One other thing about Mussina: His expectations of himself are so high, he could not tolerate getting hammered again the way he was in 2007. Better to go out on top, which is what he would be doing after his first 20-win season.

This 'n' that, Dodgers style

The Dodgers' interest in Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano is sincere, but at what price? Outfielder Matt Kemp would be an obvious fit for the Yankees, for whom he could play center or right.

Cano, after agreeing to a long-term contract last February, is under club control through 2013. Kemp actually would become a free agent first, after the 2012 season ...

Free Juan Pierre. Dodgers manager Joe Torre says Pierre is the team's hardest worker, recalling that the outfielder already would be in the weight room when he arrived at spring training each day at 6:45 a.m.

Pierre did not back off even as his playing time diminished, but the only way the Dodgers would have a place for him next season is if they traded Kemp and failed to re-sign Ramirez. Not likely. The problem with Pierre, of course, is that he is owed $28.5 million over the next three seasons ...

Dodgers rookie Cory Wade says he developed an advanced feel for pitching in part because he had no choice. He was 4-foot-11, 90 pounds entering high school and had to learn to deal with his physical limitations.

"Being small was the biggest advantage I ever had," Wade said. "I had to learn how to play the game, understand how to play the game."

Wade, the Dodgers' 10th-round pick in 2004, played mostly shortstop at Kentucky Wesleyan, but the Dodgers' scouts saw him as a good athlete with a fresh arm.

Utley's defensive leap forward

Phillies second baseman Chase Utley is known more for his offense than his defense, but Utley's fielding rates very highly in most advanced statistical measures.

In fact, Utley was the top defensive second baseman in the majors during the regular season, according to John Dewan's plus-minus rankings at Bill James Online.

Defense was the biggest question surrounding Utley as he ascended through the minors. The Phillies tried him at third base at Triple A in 2002, then moved him back to second in '03.

"I feel like I've improved a lot over the course of my professional career," Utley says. "I never thought I was as bad as people told me I was. I always worked hard on it."

Two hands! Two hands!

That's what Phillies left-hander Jamie Moyer shouts every time there is an infield popup when he is pitching. Shortstop Jimmy Rollins says he laughs when Moyer starts barking like a Little League coach, but he and the other Phillies infielders' greatly respect the pitcher, who is 45.

"He's just old school when it comes to the game," first baseman Ryan Howard says. "He runs and hustles everywhere, runs on and off the field. If you're a kid, he's the person you want to try and model yourself after in terms of playing the game the proper way"

Around the horn

The Yankees shouldn't be confident of landing right-hander Derek Lowe. Lowe, like any dutiful free agent, will entertain bids from both New York teams, but teammates say he has little interest in playing for the Mets or Yankees. Some rival clubs believe that Lowe wants to stay on the west coast. The Braves remain interested ...

Not much doubt that the Brewers will exercise their $10 million option on center fielder Mike Cameron, who turns 36 on Jan. 8. Yes, Cameron had the fourth-highest strikeout rate in the majors, but his .811 OPS ranked sixth among center fielders with 500 or more plate appearances -- ahead of Shane Victorino, ahead of B.J. Upton ...

Angels right-hander Jon Garland could be disappointed on the free-agent market. Garland's 4.90 ERA was his highest in any full season, and his rate of 4.12 strikeouts per nine innings was the lowest of his career. Not the kinds of trends a pitcher wants heading into free agency ...

Yes, Dodgers second baseman Blake DeWitt was in the team's proposed offer for right-hander Joe Blanton in July 2007 -- but the A's considered him the fourth player in a four-player deal. The Dodgers failed to land Blanton when they wouldn't part with shortstop Ivan De Jesus Jr., who had an .843 OPS last season at Double A.

This article originally published on FOXSports.com.

Read more of Ken's columns here.