Dodgers Have No Way Out of Manny Deal

The Los Angeles Dodgers don’t have many options in dealing with confirmed doper Manny Ramirez, Sean Gregory writes in Time. Manny’s 50-game suspension is governed entirely by the drug agreement between the players association and Major League Baseball. There is no contract clause allowing the Dodgers to cancel the deal over drugs—though they don’t have to pay him while he’s suspended, a savings of $8 million.

“The penalty for a first-time drug cheat is clearly stated out in the agreement,” Gregory writes. “50 games. The Dodgers cannot go out and fire Ramirez on top of that.” Sure, there is a moral clause in Ramirez’ contract, but it’s just “window dressing,” Gregory writes. “Individual contracts cannot reduce the protections for players that are negotiated collectively.” And “No Club may take any disciplinary or adverse action,” the agreement goes, “because of a Player’s violation of the Program.” (More Manny Ramirez stories.)