For most Dodger fans, the news that someone -- anyone! -- has an interest in taking Andruw Jones off the hands of the home team was met with an equal combination of happiness and confusion.  Given his large price tag and minimal production over the last two seasons, it's reasonable to question why any team, in this case the Mets, sayeth the grist for the rumor mill, would want him, even if the Dodgers pick up some of the tab.

The answer to any somewhat reasonable offer to Ned Colletti for Jones ought to be yes.  A resounding, forceful, no-give-backs-you-touched-it-last! yes.  Or maybe not?  Is there an exception to this rule?  Which leads me to today's QOTD:

What wouldn't you accept in return for a trade sending Andruw Jones out of Los Angeles?

Some suggestions: 

• Vials of ebola virus.
• GM
• Brett Tomko
• A DVD set of those Frank TV promos shown endlessly during the playoffs. 

BK

You just gotta love that clever title, kids.  That's why I make the big bucks. 

In news certain to create a stir in Blue Country, Ned Colletti is reportedly on the horn in alternating conversations with Team Adam Dunn and Team Omar Minaya (commonly referred to in some circles as "the New York Mets").  The former set of calls would be to learn the interest (and price tag) Dunn has in playing left field for the Dodgers, a decision that would theoretically signal the end of a Manny Ramirez pursuit.  While the Man Ram era's quick conclusion would likely disappoint many Dodger loyalists (and for those covering the squad, going from Manny to Dunn is certainly a "colorful" downsize), the Dodgers would be getting a decent consolation prize. 

Granted, Dunn will never hit for Manny's average or clutch, and is a given to whiff at a rate that'll make Matt Kemp blush, but he's definitely capable of going yard.  He's popped 40+ every season since 2004, a feat, as ESPN's Jayson Stark notes, no Dodger batter has notched over a full season during the same timespan.  Again, he's no Manny (and all things being equal or possible, that's who I'd get), but the Blue could do considerably worse.

One of my favorite potential slot-fillers in the '09 rotation for the Dodgers has officially been snatched up ... and by the hated Giants no less.  Randy Johnson, venerable lefty pitching for his 300th win next season, signed a one-year, $8-million deal with San Francisco.  Understanding the risk that comes with signing a 45-year-old pitcher with a history of back problems, I was a big advocate of bringing him to town, especially with a short-term deal like this.  Johnson was extremely effective over the second half of '08, and will enter spring training with scads of motivation. 

I have no idea how much genuine interest the Blue showed in the Big Unit.  His name always came up in any list of veteran hurlers who would make sense for L.A. (certainly the Dodgers fit Johnson's criteria -- an N.L. West team allowing him to pitch near his Arizona home).  Maybe Johnson prefers NoCal over SoCal.  And there are alternatives still out there.  Names like Randy Wolf, who has expressed interest in returning to L.A., keep popping up.  That would work for me. 

But given a choice between one year of Johnson and (potentially) two or three of a Jon Garland type (the template being Jon Garland), just to toss out another name connected to L.A., which would you take?

BK

Here's a great list to check twice.  Anything look good?

BK

Just as I finished typing in the previous thread that I couldn't see -- despite BK's thoughts otherwise -- the Angels making a hard push for Manny, Mike DiGiovanna from The Times is reporting the following from Anaheim GM Tony Reagins ...

"Manny will not be an Angel," Reagins said in his first public comments since the Angels pulled their offer to Teixeira on Sunday. "We're going to give our kids an opportunity to play. We signed [outfielder] Juan Rivera to a three-year deal, and we think, given at-bats, he can be productive player. "With Torii Hunter, Vladimir Guerrero, Gary Matthews Jr., Reggie Willits, our outfield is intact. It will not happen. We are not going to sign Manny Ramirez. End of story."

Why do I love it?  Two reasons.  One, I feel the Dodgers need to resign Manny at a high-dollar/low-year contract, and this turn of events can't possibly hurt those odds since alternative options for Ramirez appear severely narrowed.  Two, it's fun looking like I might turn out right about something.  Happens so rarely.  Although technically speaking, were I correct, it would only be after I chastised the Dodger brass for their original offer I deemed wholly unrealistic and transparently insincere (Ned Colletti is either on the verge of being incredibly lucky or is an unparalleled genius at forecasting the open market). But c'mon, allow me a small moment in the sun!

AK

Because really, why would the Yankees duck out on the chance to dump more cash in a plum free agent's lap?  Isn't such an M.O. their sole purpose for existing?  Seems to be, as ESPN's Buster Olney is reporting that the pinstriped bullies, not even commonly mentioned among Teixeira's frequent suitors, have beaten out the Red Sox and Nationals to land the first baseman's services. 

No word yet as to whether the 400 mil+ newly invested in three players alone (Teix, CC, A.J.) will put the kibosh on "25 Cents Night" at Yankee Stadium. 

The Yankees may look to spend the opposition into submission and are hardly averse to making fans shell out to help recoup those ducats.  But -- despite my constant insistence otherwise -- they're not an entirely evil empire, as evidenced by the circa 1923 "two bits" seats being offered for the exhibition opener against the Cubbies.  It's certainly a nice way to help fans check out the new stadium at a reasonable price during hard times. 

And from there, one presumes the expected CC/A.J. blood letting will commence. 

AK

If you happen to be one of the gazillion Dodgers fans hoping the Blue will bring back Manny Ramirez, you should have been rooting for the Angels to re-sign Mark Teixeira.  Well, for now at least, that doesn't look like it's going to happen.  The Halos have pulled out of the bidding for the slugging first baseman, and while the door is never totally closed on a player still available on the free-agent market, the Angels tend not to play a lot of games when it comes to this sort of thing.  I think Teixeira will land in Boston, close enough to his native Maryland but not requiring him to actually play for the Orioles or Nationals. 

Had LAA been able to ink Tex to a long-term deal, the Manny Market would have continued to shrink.  Instead, he could end up in Boston, the one team in baseball that absolutely, positively wasn't going to make Ramirez an offer.  Instead, the Angels will remain in the hunt for a bat, and while they haven't exactly flooded Scott Boras' office with flowers and Cheesecake Factory gift cards, they haven't closed the door to Manny either.  The Dodgers have been careful -- and smart -- not to bid against themselves for Ramirez.  Now, though, they may have to start bidding against other teams, resurrecting the question of how high they'll go. 

No shock here, but ink has been put to paper. 

News release below the jump.  (Here's the report from Dylan Hernandez of the LAT.)

BK