Joe Torre of the L.A. Dodgers finished 3rd in the voting for the National League Manager of the Year Award. Torre led the Dodgers to a 95-67 (58.6%) record last season winning the N.L. West. Torre has now compiled a 179-145 (55.2%) record in his two years with the Dodgers. Look for Torre to be in the running for this award next season to as the Dodgers will be a playoff contender again in 2010.

Manny Ramirez has exercised his player option worth $20 million bucks as he will play again for the Dodgers in 2010. The Dodgers hope he gives them their money’s worth in 2010 as he was a huge disappointment in 2009. He was suspended for the first fifty games of last season for testing positive for a performance enhancing drug. Ramirez played in 104 games for the Dodgers last season and he was 102 for 352 (.290 avg, .949 OPS) with 62 runs scored, 19 homers and 63 RBIs. In his two years in L.A., Manny has played in 157 games in which he is 176 for 539 (.327 avg, 1.047 OPS) with 98 runs scored, 36 homers and 116 RBIs. It will be interesting to see how baseball writer’s judge Ramirez five years after he retires because he already has Hall of Fame numberts. He has played in 2,207 games in his major league career and he is 2,494 for 7,962 (.313 avg, 1.002 OPS) with 1,506 runs scored, 546 homers, 1,788 RBIs and 37 stolen bases.

The Dodgers have declined a $10 million dollar option on the 2010 season for right starting pitcher Jon Garland. Garland started 6 games for the Dodgers after coming over in a trade with the D-Backs and he was 3-2 with a 2.72 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. Garland started 33 games overall last season for the Dodgers & D-Backs and he was 11-13 with a 4.01 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. The Dodgers will be in the market for starting pitching either through the trade market or in free agency.

The Padres are going to try to move righty starting pitcher Chris Young over the winter and he would make a nice fit in the Dodgers’ starting rotation. With that in mind the Dodgers should offer outfielders Xavier Paul, Jason Repko and a prospect to the Padres. With the Padres dearth of offense they would probably jump at this kind of deal as long as they weren’t worried about making a trade within the division.