Not very exciting.  Of course, he is a classic IF guy.  IF his arm is okay, IF his velocity is back up, IF this IF that.  Baseball is comprised of many IF guys at this point in the off-season. 80% prove to be definitely NOT.   I HOPE for the best, which is all a fan can do (and an owner who doesn't seem to have the money to do much more).  The dodgers staff at this point has several IF guys--like most of their starting rotation--Kuroda, Kershaw, McDonald?  All IF's.  Broxton is even somewhat of an IF as a closer.  And a lot of fans on this site think getting Pettit is a good idea (an aging IF).  Although I don't believe the Dodgers would give him the money he wants, anyway.  

Hey, whatever happened to that Perez guy they gave 18 million to, then ended up in the minor leagues?  Lying on a beach on a lovely island, thanking God and the dodgers stupidity for his IF contract.

Okay, here's my Manny riff.

As much as I would love to have him signed for the next 3-4 years and go on to hit what he is capable of while keeping his good spirits up . . .

I have grave doubts.

As a Dodger fan, you can't forget how he left Boston.  It was truly UGLY and it was NOT exaggerated.  He quit on the team so he could get out of his contract and eventually go to the highest bidder.  Keep in mind, Dodger fans, this was a city that LOVED him and gave him incredible support (even when he didn't deserve it).  Also management that was ALWAYS looking the other way for his benefit and letting him get away with some very serious shit.  Do you really think Boston would have--not only let go of--but pay millions of dollars to the Dodgers to do so, because of some minor disagreement?  It had to be really extreme for them to give up such an outstanding player, and all of the other GM's in baseball are aware of it, which is why he is not being hotly pursued with multi-year offers.  Also . . .

Did you notice that the other Red Sox players were not up in arms to lose such a great hitter in the middle of a playoff race?  In fact, several of their best players said it was good he left.

If it wasn't for Manny's attitude, at least a half dozen teams would have already signed him. And the Dodgers would NOT have been one of them, as they would have been out bid by the Yankees, Mets, Rangers, and who knows else.  In fact, if he didn't have such a self-centered, the world revolves around Manny attitude, he NEVER would have left Boston, because he had EVERYTHING there going for him. Great fan base, great team, big money.   Him leaving in the way he did just shows he's ONLY interested in the money, and with that kind of motivation it is very likely he will NOT perform as he is capable of for as long as he should.

I hope, if they do sign him, I am proved to be wrong.  He truly is a great hitter.  As a matter of pure baseball skills, I love the guy--but not what the guy is made of.