ShareThisBlake DeWitt's hometown of Sikeston, Mo., experienced an ice storm last month that hit with enough force to cause millions of dollars in damage and a major power outage.
The talk of that town certainly isn't whether or not Manny Ramirez will grace the Dodgers with his presence, and DeWitt, the team's young second baseman, said the soap opera isn't anything he worries about. From his perspective, LA wouldn't exactly be in a state of emergency without the slugger.
"Absolutely we can win without him," DeWitt said. "We have some good players in place. A lot of players grew up last year. We brought in some good players and we're a good team."
That team will begin congregating in Arizona on Saturday when pitchers and catchers report for spring training. Position players will follow four days later.
But a certain left fielder won't, should Ramirez remain unsigned by the Dodgers. Negotiations to bring back the dreadlocked superstar appear deadlocked. Los Angeles general manager Ned Colletti wouldn't even say if he would continue talks with agent Scott Boras past that date.
"I'd be putting a deadline on it if I answered that question," Colletti said.
There is mutual interest in getting a deal done, but it has turned into a war of attrition to settle on terms that would satisfy both sides.
In November, the Dodgers offered Ramirez $45 million over two seasons with a $15 million option for a third. No response came.
In December, the Dodgers offered salary arbitration, essentially a one-year contract worth more than $20 million. The offer was declined.
Last week, the Dodgers offered $25 million for one season. That offer was rejected.
"Knowing Scott Boras, I'm not surprised the way he deals with things," catcher Russell Martin said. "He has his own way of doing it."
Ramirez apparently expected better when he had $20 million options for the next two seasons dropped to be traded to LA, and then proceeded to hit .396 with 17 home runs and 53 RBI to lead the Dodgers into the playoffs.
Meanwhile, only San Francisco has publicly emerged as a potential bidder against the Dodgers. However, Giants general manager Brian Sabean has said he wouldn't give Ramirez a long-term contract, either.
"I don't know what he's going to do," said Martin, who spoke to Ramirez a few times during the winter. "I don't even think Manny knows what he's going to do yet. Everyone in LA, I think, wants him on the team, but it's up to him."
The Dodgers might also be running out of replacement options, with top free-agent outfielders Bobby Abreu and Adam Dunn having gone elsewhere and leaving LA with Juan Pierre as a projected starter.
And so for now, the Dodgers will celebrate that they have re-signed shortstop Rafael Furcal and third baseman Casey Blake. They will count on continued maturation from young players like DeWitt and Martin, James Loney and Matt Kemp, Chad Billingsley and Clayton Kershaw.
At the same time, they hope Ramirez will join them. The alternative is moving on, which the Dodgers don't really want to do.
"At some point in time," Colletti said. "I'm not sure where that point in time comes yet."
(Contact Diamond Leung at dleung@PE.com.)
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)
Must credit The Press-Enterprise of Riverside, Calif.
