Manny Ramirez to the Philadelphia Phillies? Don't Rule It Out...

The Los Angeles Dodgers reportedly offered future Hall-of-Fame slugger Manny Ramirez a new near-record contract. The contract is believed to be either two or three years for either $50 or $75 million. The free-agent slugger would quickly become the second-highest paid player in baseball, behind third baseman Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees.

“I want to see who is the highest bidder,” Manny announced to the baseball world. His desire to test the market became apparent after the Dodgers were eliminated by the Philadelphia Phillies in this year's National League Championship Series. The free-agent slugger will likely not be re-signed by the Dodgers.

Agent Scott Boras, the same man who negotiated record-setting contracts for A-Rod and Barry Bonds, called the talks with the Dodgers “preliminary." Boras stated that, “Manny is seeking something that is fair based on what players like him have received in the past.”

In that case, Manny deserves to be the second-highest paid player in baseball, maybe even the highest paid player. He batted .396 with 17 home runs and 53 RBI in less than half a season for the Dodgers. The Dodgers captured the N.L. West title, and in the postseason, Manny batted .520 with four home runs and 10 RBI in eight games.

He was, in essence, the best player in baseball over the last three months. He took a team that trailed the Arizona Diamondbacks in the playoff hunt and single-handedly carried them into the postseason.

The Phillies, world champions for just the second time in franchise history, defeated the Dodgers in the NLCS. They were victimized by Manny more than once, as the Dodger superstar batted .533 with two home runs and seven RBI. He also delivered hits with runners in scoring position seven times in an eight at-bat stretch.

The Phillies will likely part ways with left fielder Pat Burrell. The popular slugger belted 33 home runs and knocked in 86 runs. He became just the fifth National League player to hit two home runs in a series-clinching win in the playoffs (Game Four of the NLDS against the Milwaukee Brewers). And he provided the biggest hit in the clinching game of the World Series—a seventh-inning leadoff double that led to the eventual winning run.

However, Burrell's contract expires after this season and there has been much speculation as to whether the Phillies can pay $13 to $15 million to keep him on the team for next season. Given that scenario, why would the Phillies ever make an offer to Manny Ramirez?

Because Manny is better than Pat Burrell. Manny is way better than Pat Burrell. Manny is so good, in fact, that he might be the best right-handed hitter in the game since Jimmie Foxx. He has 527 career home runs and ranks first all-time with 28 postseason homers. He has over 1,700 career runs batted in and has a lifetime batting average of .314.

New Phillies General Manager Ruben Amaro has stated that his team could use a power-hitting left fielder but that Manny was too expensive. This is not surprising. No way does Amaro want to admit whether he has planned to go after Ramirez. The Phillies were in the lead to sign Manny before the Dodgers stepped in this past July. Given a second chance, why wouldn't the front office sign the future Hall of Famer?

Many say Manny would struggled to fit in with the demanding Philly crowd. I disagree. I think that Philly has grown accustomed to having a liability on defense in left field. Manny wouldn't change that. They're used to batters striking out with men in scoring position (Ryan Howard). They've had players insult their fans (Jimmy Rollins). Nothing would be new. We forgave Jimmy because he transformed us into a winner. The ultimate winner.

Manny would be a hero in Philadelphia. A legend. His timely clutch hits and experience are impressive enough that the Phillies should risk his potential moodiness in the clubhouse or his poor play in left field.

Think about what Johan Santana meant for the Mets. Now imagine Manny Ramirez on the most complete team in baseball, the world champion Philadelphia Phillies. This team would be unstoppable. I would love Manny Ramirez on my team.