The Los Angeles Dodgers reportedly made slugger Manny Ramirez yet another contract offer, an offer the enigmatic start apparently could refuse.

The offer was said to be a one year deal worth $25 million with a player option for a second year at $20. Talks between Manny and the Dodgers had been heating up in recent days and GM Ned Colletti's absence from the club's spring training facility fueled speculation that a deal was close.

However, ESPN.com is reporting that Manny has once again turned down the Dodgers offer and that negotiations are starting "from scratch."

The Dodgers remain Manny's only real suitor and it would come as quite a surprise if he signed anywhere else. However, with Spring Training in full swing, Ramirez agent Scott Boras appears to be playing a high risk game of chicken with the Dodgers, daring the team to start the season without the powerful slugger in their lineup.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are now "actively involved in negotiations" with free agent second baseman, Orlando Hudson, according to the LA Daily News.

The former Gold Glove winner has had limited suitors this offseason despite his career year last season, due in large part to his status as a type A free agent who was offered arbitration. For a team other than the Arizona Diamondbacks to sign Hudson, they'd have to give up their first round pick as compensation and so far no team has been unwilling to pay that price.

There has been some speculation that MLB might tweak the rules governing the trade of free agents, thus allowing sign-and-trade deals, however, it has not been mentioned as a possibility with Hudson.

The Dodgers would also need to find room on their 40 man roster should they decide to sign Hudson. The only spot left was widely believed to be reserved for Manny Ramirez.

The slow market for type A free agents such as Orlando Hudson, Orlando Cabrera, and Juan Cruz might lead Major League Baseball to alter the rules surrounding the trade of free agents, effectively opening the door for sign-and-trade agreements.

Currently, free agents are not allowed to be traded until June 15th, however FoxSports' Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the players union would be open to allowing players, specifically Cruz, to waive that right. Since signing a type A free agent requires a team to give up their first round draft pick as compensation, the market for Cruz and others has been incredibly slow. The Twins, Dodgers, and Brewers have all been rumored to be interested in Cruz, but have made it clear they don't want to give up a first round pick in order to sign him.

Assuming the players union and MLB actually do change the rules, Cruz's agent would then negotiate with any interested teams. Once the terms of a deal were agreed upon, the Diamondbacks would negotiate with the interested team to determine what compensation (presumably a player worth slightly less than a first round pick) the D'backs would receive. Cruz would then re-sign with Arizona (thus negating any type A triggered loss of draft picks) and be imediately traded to a new team.

MLB.com is reporting that a sign-and-trade deal is being discussed in regards to Cruz, however, there's no word on whether other type A free agents will seek a similar agreement.

"I definitely would be very surprised if he's not a Dodger"

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Joe Torre made headlines yesterday proclaiming he'd be surprised if Manny Ramirez did not resign with the Dodgers. While he quickly assured reporters that he had no inside knowledge of negotiations, it reignited Manny fever in the LA sports world.

For his part, GM Ned Colletti stated that "there's been some progress made [in talks with Ramirez] but obviously not enough to consummate a deal." While their previous offers to Manny and his agent Scott Boras have been regected it certainly appears that there's no hard feelings from the Dodgers.

And in reality, Boras is lucky that he hasn't alienated the one team in the league that can afford to give Manny a deal big enough for the "super agent" to save face. The market for light-fielding heavy hitters, even future Hall of Fame hitters, was surprisingly low this offseason and I would be shocked if Manny winds up with a deal better than the two year, $45 million deal from the Dodgers turned down at the beginning of winter. While the San Francisco Giants have been rumored to be interested, they've shown no indication of being able to afford to match even the one year, $25 million deal from the Dodgers that Manny turned down more recently.

That being said, the Dodgers are undoubtedly a better team with Ramirez anchoring their lineup and like Joe Torre, I'd be surprised if Man-Ram isn't back in Dodger blue by opening day.

The Atlanta Braves are believed to be making a late run at signing free agent Ken Griffey Jr. according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Atlanta has been looking for an outfield bat during the offseason, and Griffey could be a great fit, at least against right handed pitching.

Junior was reportedly close to a deal to return to Seattle where he spent the first 11 years of his career. However, Atlanta is rumored to be Griffey's first choice due to it's proximity to his home in Orlando and his friendship with Bobby Cox.

Should Atlanta sign the future Hall of Famer, he would probably be used in a platoon situation, maximizing his at bats against righties as well as giving the 39 year old veteran plenty of rest. While "the Kid" still has the sweetest swing in baseball, his body has broken down over the years and he's lost significant time to injuries over the past several seasons.

The Los Angeles Angels seem to be close to landing free agent slugger Bobby Abreu to a one year deal.

Abreu initially sought a three year deal in the neighborhood of $48 million, however as the economic reality of this offseason set in, it became clear that the outfielder would have to settle for something drastically less.

ESPN's Jerry Crasnick reports that Abreu may be willing to accept a one year deal in the neighborhood of $8 million and Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Angles asked for waivers on Nick Green, possibly in preparation of an Abreu deal.

The Angels lineup has been depleted this offseason by the free agent defections of Mark Teixeira and Garret Anderson and Abreu's 20 home runs and 100 RBI's last year with the New York Yankees would be a welcome addition.

The Atlanta Braves had been rumored to be interested in Abreu, but apparently could not meet the player's salary demands, even on a one year deal.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are reportedly the close to signing free agent pitcher Randy Wolf.

The longtime Phillie spent the 2007 season with the Dodgers winning 9 games with a 4.73 ERA, making just 18 starts due to injury. Last year the lefty split time between the Padres and the Houston Astros and putting up a 3.57 ERA with the 'Stros.

Wolf has also been linked to the New York Mets, Arizona Diamondbacks, Philadelphia Phillies, and the Houston Astros over the course of the offseason but is apparently leaning towards a one or two year deal with the Dodgers who are looking to replace both Brad Penny and Derek Lowe. The deal is rumored to be for significantly less than the three year, $28.5 million deal the Astros offered earlier this winter.

If Wolf does indeed sign with LA, the deal could pressure the Mets to intensify their persuit of free agent Oliver Perez.

The New York Mets and Yankees are reportedly the favorites to land free agent pitcher Freddy Garcia, who is seeking a guaranteed deal despite having only pitched 73 innings combined in the past two seasons.

Garcia, who topped 200 innings pitched in the 04-06 seasons, had shoulder surgery in 2007 and returned to action in September of last year, making three starts for the Detroit Tigers going 1-1 with a 4.20 ERA over 15 innings.

The 32 year old pitcher would be battling for the 5th spot in the rotation for both New York teams and would obviously represent an injury risk. While a non-guaranteed deal is the most likely scenario, the Chicago White Sox and Texas Rangers had been rumored to be interested in Garcia as well.

Whichever team blinks first and offers a guaranteed deal will probably land the veteran hurler. Naturally, when you're talking about taking a financial risk in the game of baseball, the teams from New York immediately stand out as the front-runners.

Just over a year after signing the free agent outfielder, the Los Angeles Dodgers have released former All Star Andruw Jones. The two year, $36.2 million deal goes down as one of the more memorable busts in recent years, after Jones batted just .158 for the Dodgers in 75 games.

Jones recently agreed to restructure his contract to facilitate a trade, however the Dodgers were unable to find a taker for the former 5 time All Star.

The Atlanta Braves have been rumored to be interested in bringing Jones back to provide outfield depth, speculation that was fueled by Jones attending a college basketball game wearing a Braves hat.

I understand Jones has a history with the Braves and that he likely wouldn't cost much but I just don't see the benefit for the Braves. While he's only 31, Jones' decline has been startelingly rapid, and was coupled with injury as well as problems with his weight. It's tough to argue the Braves wouldn't be just as well served giving the playing time and at bats to a youngster.

The Boston Red Sox appear to be on the verge of signing both John Smoltz and Rocco Baldelli to one year deals with a heavy emphasis on performance incentives.

Smoltz and the Sox have reportedly agreed to a one year deal for the veteran pitcher who is coming off shoulder surgery last June. The deal will pay the long time Brave a guaranteed $5.5 million and include incentives that could be worth up to $5 million more. Smoltz had said that he'd like to finish his career in Atlanta, the only team he's played for in his 21 year major league career, but after getting only 5 starts for his $14 million salary last year, the Braves were apparently a bit gun shy. Atlanta was unwilling to offer anything more than $3 million guaranteed and had made it known that they were prepared to let Smotlz sign elsewhere.

The Sox were also reportedly ready to give an incentive-laden one year deal to outfielder Rocco Baldelli. Baldelli, who spent 5 seasons with the AL Champion Tampa Bay Rays is attempting to mount a comeback after suffering from a bizzare disease that left him extremely fatigued and largely unable to perform. However, reports recently suggested that he may have been misdiagnosed and that he may well be able to continue his career. He'd certainly add depth and speed to the Red Sox outfield if he can manage to stay healthy.