More (well, not really) on Manny and the Dodgers

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LAS VEGAS -- Dodgers General Manager Ned Colletti says any future negotiations with Manny Ramirez will have to be started by Ramirez or his agent, Scott Boras.

‘I think the next conversation has to start with them,’ Colletti told reporters tonight at baseball’s winter meetings in Las Vegas.

The Dodgers made Ramirez a three-year offer weeks ago and heard nothing. Then they offered him arbitration and heard nothing again.

What Ramirez has said is that he’ll play for the highest bidder.

‘I don’t know him well enough to know where his heart of hearts is,’ Colletti said. ‘I don’t know why he said what he said.’

Colletti also said the Dodgers have a hard decision to make when it comes to closer Takashi Saito.

Dec. 12 is the last day to tender contracts to arbitration-eligible players, and Colletti said, ‘It’s going to be a tough call,’ pertaining to Saito.

‘The last time we needed him to pitch, he couldn’t pitch,’ Colletti said. ‘Has he become healthy since then? I don’t know if I could answer that.’

If the Dodgers offer Saito arbitration, the right-hander might be awarded a healthy raise. Also complicating matters, Saito is in the process of changing agents, having left Steve Hilliard.

--Dylan Hernandez