December 10th, 2022 at 8:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka * * *
“If I could save time in a bottle,
The first thing that I’d like to do,
Is to save every day ’til eternity passes away,
Just to spend them with you.”
– Jim Croce – “Time in a Bottle” – 1963
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When former Dodgers General Manager Ned Colletti signed (then) 36-year-old/16-year MLB veteran outfielder Manny Ramirez to a two-year/$42.5 million contract on March 4, 2009, the hope was that the 12-time All-Star, nine-time Silver Slugger, 2002 American League Batting Champion, two-time World Series Champion, and 2004 World Series MVP would be fraction of his old self with his new team. The Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic native and first-round draft pick in 1991 by the (then) Cleveland Indians out of George Washington High School in New York City did not disappoint Colletti or Dodgers fans.
In his two-plus seasons (223 games) in Dodger Blue, Ramirez slashed a remarkable .322/.433/.580/1.012, with 44 home runs (a good many of which landed in a section of Dodger Stadium’s Left Field Pavilion that was affectionally – and appropriately – nicknamed “Mannywood”) and 156 RBI. Additionally, Ramirez’s famed number 99 Dodgers jersey was the top seller at Chavez Ravine during his remarkable time in LA.
(Ron Cervenka)
As you undoubtedly know, and as Jim Croce (who sadly perished in a plane crash in 1973) affectionately tells us, saving “time in a bottle” means to keep things exactly as they are, and it worked exceptionally well for Ned Colletti with Manny Ramirez.
Could it also work well for current Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman who, on Thursday, signed 33-year-old/13-year MLB veteran outfielder Jason Heyward to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training? Does Heyward still have something left in the tank? Although that remains to be seen, the Ridgewood, NJ native and first-round draft pick in 2007 (14th overall) by the Atlanta Braves out of Henry County High School in McDonough, GA is still owed $22 million from the Chicago Cubs after being released earlier this offseason, he will also make the MLB league minimum of $720,000 from the Dodgers … if he makes their Major League roster. A a pretty good deal on a relatively safe gamble by Friedman and the Dodgers, wouldn’t you say?
(Quinn Harris)
Per MLB.com Dodgers beat writer Juan Toribio, there were “…a good amount of teams interested in signing” the veteran outfielder, but he chose the Dodgers for a couple of reasons, most notably for an opportunity to win another World Series ring, which he did while with the Chicago Cubs against the Cleveland Indians in 2016.
The hope is that Heyward will provide outfield support for a Dodgers team that is currently lacking in solid outfield defense aside from future Hall of Famer Mookie Betts. As Toribio notes, Heyward has primarily played in right or center field during his thus far 13-year MLB career.
Will Friedman and the Dodgers save “Time in a Bottle” again with Jason Heyward on their 2023 Opening Day roster?
Stay tuned…
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I think he will be at least as good as Bellinger in 2023. Good move by AF.
Agree. Low risk, possible high reward.
I am sure AF is taking a look at all the non tenders.
This is exactly why he is considered by many to be the best in the business.
Kiermaier off the board.
Friedman and his operations staff have the ability to find talent within players that no one else is able to discern, then to find and use the key to unlock that talent. Does it always work out? No. But in Heyward’s case it is a very low cost/risk and potential high reward. I believe a players character is vitally important — a significant difference between the high character Heyward and the PED cheater Ramirez.
JT, Muncy, CT3…now Heyward? Never say never. He will be a budget Cody Bellinger. No need to pay Belli 18 mil when you can pay Heyward league minimum for similar production. Belli will obviously have more power and has much more upside but I don’t mind this move at all.
They clearly want to stay under the CBT so they can reset it. At this point with San Diego somehow turning into the 90’s Yankees in terms of buying their team, let’s roll with what we’ve got now and try to topple that powerhouse down there lol. Bring the kids up and let ‘em play. No need to win 111 games and win the division when 90 wins and a wild card berth will suffice. Maybe going into October as the underdogs for once will spark them somehow.
It is funny to see how happy Padres “fans” are now though. All they’ve done for years is talk about how the Dodgers just buy wins yet now their entire team is quite literally bought and paid for and they’re all about it. Funny how that works. A complete joke that people are acting like they’re somehow this amazing fan base. I saw first hand how awful they are as fans when I lived a handful of blocks away from Petco from 07-16. They NEVER showed up. God I can’t stand that joke of a fanbase.