Manny, L.A. get deal done
LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers got their Manny, and all it took after weeks of wrangling was an early morning get-together bringing both sides to owner Frank McCourt's house.
Manny Ramirez and the Dodgers officially agreed Wednesday on a $45 million, two-year contract that keeps him with the NL West champions. The slugger can void the second season of the deal and again become a free agent.
The stalemate ended during a 6 a.m. meeting Wednesday at McCourt's Malibu home. The session came after weeks of protracted negotiations that included starts, stops, offers and subsequent rejections.
At times, McCourt's frustration with Scott Boras surfaced, with the owner describing Ramirez's agent as "challenging to work with."
But all that was forgotten when the parties met face-to-face, with general manager Ned Colletti and manager Joe Torre calling the gathering "comfortable."
"We got a great meeting," Ramirez told KCAL-TV as he emerged from a mandatory physical in suburban Inglewood. "I'm happy to be here. We got some unfinished business, and that's why I'm here."
The Dodgers confirmed the deal shortly after Ramirez passed the physical. He is set to meet with the media Thursday morning in Phoenix.
Ramirez gets $10 million this year, and $15 million in deferred money with no interest, payable in $5 million installments each Jan. 15 from 2010 through 2012. If it winds up as a two-year deal, he gets $10 million each season, with three payments of $8,333,333 each Jan. 15 from 2011-13.
Ramirez has until November to decide whether to void the second season.
Los Angeles' original offer was for $45 million in guaranteed money, including a $4 million buyout of a 2011 option, and gave the Dodgers the ability to maintain control of Ramirez over three years. It also did not include the no-trade provision.
Ramirez helped Los Angeles win the division by hitting .396 with 17 homers and 53 RBI in 53 regular-season games. In the playoffs, he batted .520 with four homers, 10 RBI, nine runs and 11 walks in eight games.
In other news:
n Ken Griffey Jr. walked and flied out in two plate appearances as a designated hitter in a 11-9 loss to Australia at Peoria, Ariz., his first spring training game since rejoining the Seattle Mariners. His surgically repaired left knee held up just fine.
n Rays manager Joe Maddon picked James Shields to start on opening day for the AL champions.
