Ramírez receives 1st pitch

Dodgers' offer may be worth $60m

Will $20 million a year be enough to keep Manny Ramírez in Dodger Blue? Depends how long the deal is.

The Los Angeles Dodgers first offer to Ramírez includes a club option for a third year that could push the value of the contract to $60 million, the Los Angeles Times reported last night, citing anonymous sources.

Ramírez's agent, Scott Boras, has said the proposed deal is not long enough. The offer is good until tomorrow, the last day of the Dodgers exclusive negotiating period.

The Los Angeles Times cited a team source as saying owner Frank McCourt might guarantee the third year for the 36-year-old Ramírez.

General manager Ned Colletti said he hasn't spoken to Boras since last week, when he presented the proposal at the GM meetings at Dana Point, Calif.

Holliday trade close

Matt Holliday's trade to the Oakland Athletics was nearly completed and an announcement was expected soon.

The Colorado Rockies were set to send Holliday to the A's for reliever Huston Street, lefthander Greg Smith, and outfielder Carlos Gonzalez. The teams were reviewing the players' physicals and an announcement was anticipated today, two people with knowledge of the discussions said. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because the trade wasn't finalized.

Holliday, 28, was in the Bay Area yesterday to meet with A's officials and be examined. The star outfielder is due to make $13.5 million next season and then will be eligible to become a free agent.

Nationals upgrade

The Nationals finalized their acquisition of lefthander Scott Olsen and outfielder Josh Willingham, sending three players to the Marlins in return. Olsen went 8-11 with a 4.20 ERA in 2008, his third consecutive season with at least 31 starts. Willingham hit .254 with 15 homers and 51 RBIs this year, but missed 50 games with a herniated disk in his back. The Marlins received second baseman Emilio Bonifacio and two minor leaguers: second baseman Jake Smolinski and righthander P.J. Dean.

Neshek out for '09

Twins reliever Pat Neshek will have ligament replacement surgery on his right elbow and is expected to miss next season. The righthander reinjured his elbow last week during a throwing session at the team's facility in Florida. After a standout season in 2007 as Minnesota's primary setup man, Neshek sustained a partial tear of the ligament during a game in May and was shut down for the season . . . Brewers reliever Salomon Torres, 36, who had a career-high 28 saves in 2008, retired after 12 major league seasons, saying he wanted to spend more time with his family . . . Marlins pitcher Henry Owens was suspended for the first 50 games of next season after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance . . . Herb Score, 75, a hard-throwing Indians pitcher who was the 1955 AL Rookie of the Year, died at his home in Rocky River, Ohio. Obituary, B13.