You really have to wonder what Manny Ramirez and Scott Boras are thinking about.

Manny has turned down a $25 million offer from the Dodgers for 2009, with a $20 million player option for 2010. That means that if Manny thinks he can get more on the open market, he can opt out and become a free agent again.

Apparently the issue is over deferred money - when the $45 million will be paid out. Manny apparently wants to get paid out over the two years, while the Dodgers want to spread out the payments into 2013.

Have Boras and Manny been paying attention to what is going on? The economy is in the worst shape it has been since the Great Depression. Good outfielders like Bobby Abreu and Pat Burrell are signing for much less than they made last year. That the Dodgers are actually offering a raise over what the Red Sox paid Manny last year is astonishing in this economy.

If I were Dodgers GM Ned Colletti, I would make my offer a final one. Tell Boras that if he has a better offer than the one the Dodgers are putting out there, he should go sign that. It's time to call his bluff and see what happens.

Spring Training games are already underway. Manny needs to decide where he wants to play for 2009.