He added, "It hasn't been pushed beyond that."

As the Dodgers remain the front-runners while continuing to publicly question Ramirez's and agent Scott Boras' intentions, the Giants wait in the wings wondering if it's still possible a fantastic power hitter will fall in their laps.

The Giants have dropped no hint they'd match any of the Dodgers' offers or guarantee two years and $45 million. More realistic, they've considered a creative proposal in which Ramirez could get himself a multiyear deal by reaching certain incentives.

At the same time, the Giants would want to protect themselves and have the power to eventually pull out of a contract if it's not working out. It's questionable whether Boras would accept such an arrangement.

"We've got to do what's right for the Giants," Baer said. "We've got to make a compelling case that it's in the Giants' best interests to do it, and the resources it takes to do it don't hamper us in doing other things."

New managing general partner Bill Neukom called the Dodgers the favorites in the Manny sweepstakes and added, "We're watching it carefully. Nobody knows how that's going to play out. That's mostly up to the player and his agent at this point."

Neukom wouldn't go as far as saying signing Ramirez would be similar to Peter Magowan signing Barry Bonds in December 1992. Bonds was in his late 20s. Ramirez is in his late 30s.

"This is more complicated," Neukom said.