DANA POINT, Calif. -- The Dodgers' two year-offer to Manny Ramirez -- believed to be for about $45 million -- is very unlikely to lead to a quick deal between the sides, or perhaps any deal.

The sides are so far apart that the Blue Jays, Orioles and perhaps the Yankees and other teams likely have moved ahead of the Dodgers in the Manny sweepstakes. Those outside teams aren't eligible to make offers until Nov. 14, but the Dodgers have thus far failed to get a jump start on the others with a proposal so far below Ramirez's asking price that Manny is likely thinking more seriously about outside options now.

The Dodgers might consider upping their bid at some point, but if they do, a person connected to the team suggested it would most likely be only a bump in salary, not in years, at least initially. The Dodgers may eventually come close to matching A-Rod's record annual salary with a two-year, $55 million proposal, but will likely need to be pushed by fan response to go to three years, according to that person.

jon heyman

How did the Orioles get drawn into this article?

The Orioles??? Does anyone have a real bead on where Angelos' budgetary cap is for now and the next few years? I have no clue.

I would love to see Manny in an Orioles uniform for the next 4 years, but this smells a lot like 2004 when the O's blew their financial wad on Tejada, Palmeiro, and Lopez and then had little money for anything else.

We don't need to go through that again - I believe that's what set us back again these last 4 years.

Yet again the Orioles will be used to drive up bids from the Yankees.

Yes.....but I'd worry about the Jays, especially since the Yankees will go all out for Burnett or Sabbathia AND Teixeira.

If we got Manny, we'd have an interesting product on the field in 2009 to say the least.

In the end, I still predict Manny and Sabathia in pinstripes, Teixeira in Anaheim, Dunn in Washington, and Burnett in Baltimore.

As for Peavy and Holliday, who knows. I think Anaheim would be pretty smart to pay what San Diego wants to get Peavy - I think that's the move (along with re-signing Teixeira) that would get them over the hump.

the Cubs will get Peavy, my prediction.

There are some pretty decent minor league free agents that the O's should consider signing. There is even a Carlos Pena possibility among the group.

Jesus Guzman - still young and tearing it up in Venezuela. I find it hard that this is the Jesus Guzman that is the minor league free agent that the Athletics have allowed to go. Perhaps there is a second Jesus Guzman.

Heath Phillips - He's starting in the Dom Rep and he is pitching solid. The O's could use a spot starter/logn man.

Justin Huber - Even though the Padres and Royals have released him he does play first place and both those teams tried to use him in left field. He's probably a better fit at first base.

Joel Guzman - He's my Carlos Pena equivalent, though he has got to learn to hit breaking balls. He's 5 for 9 in the Dom Rep.

Or his second coming.

The First J-o-e-l?