That's $20 million less than the Dodgers offered Manny Ramirez. Dunn is not Ramirez, mind you. But he's 7 1/2 years younger, said to be in the best shape of his career and the only major leaguer to hit 40 or more homers in each of the past five seasons.

Not a bad alternative. Not bad at all.

At the moment, the Dodgers are focused on pitching, talking to free-agent closer Trevor Hoffman as well as other starters and relievers.

They will not act on Dunn until they exhaust their options with Ramirez, according to major-league sources.

However, general manager Ned Colletti favors short-term, high-dollar deals and prefers Dunn to Bobby Abreu, the other top left-handed hitting free agent, sources say.

Ramirez's agent, Scott Boras, might scoff at the notion of the Dodgers signing Dunn instead of Ramirez, who not only performed brilliantly after arriving from the Red Sox last season, but also was big box office.

Ramirez, however, does not appear to have another prominent suitor. If the Dodgers indeed went for Dunn, where would Boras turn?

The Dodgers, likewise, also might be Dunn's best option. The Nationals want him, but Dunn savored playing in his first pennant race with the Diamondbacks last summer, saying it left him wanting to play for a contender.

The only way Dunn could rationalize signing with the Nats would be if free-agent second baseman Orlando Hudson, who shares the same agents, joined him in D.C. Other rebuilding clubs would be even more unappealing.

The Dodgers, on the other hand, are the likely favorite in the NL West. The Braves could intrigue Dunn; they have interest in him, but not on a long-term deal at his desired average salary of $12 million to $14 million, sources say.

Dunn obviously would prefer a contract longer than two years, but at the right salary such a deal would make sense.

He would be only 31 when he re-entered the market, presumably in a better economy. At that point, he might be sitting on 350 homers, giving his next team the chance to market his 500th and perhaps even his 600th.

Ramirez, of course, is chasing his own milestones, but his history suggests that he might become a distraction if he is unhappy with his contract. Who knows how he would conduct himself if the Dodgers failed to meet his goal of a four-year, $100 million contract?

Dunn strikes out more than Ramirez. His .899 career on-base/slugging percentage isn't as gaudy as Ramirez's 1.004 figure. And, unlike Ramirez, he has never played in the postseason.

Defense? Neither is a good left fielder, but Dunn ranked slightly higher at the position last season according to the plus-minus ratings on Bill James Online.

There is only one Ramirez, which is why the Dodgers need to make every effort to sign him. But Colletti appears to be in a unique position of strength. His alternative is Adam Dunn.

Trouble in St. Louis?

Cubs left fielder Alfonso Soriano and Astros left fielder Carlos Lee fall into the same category. Both possess full no-trade clauses (as does Wells) and their respective clubs do not seem inclined to move them.

Mets look stuck with Castillo

Pat Burrell's new $8 million average salary only reinforces how difficult it will be for the Mets to move second baseman Luis Castillo, who is owed an average of $6.25 million in the final three years of his deal.

The Dodgers' restructuring of outfielder Andruw Jones' contract eliminates perhaps the best chance for the Mets to trade bad contract for bad contract, an idea that was a longshot from the start.

In theory, the Mets could assume enough of Castillo's salary to make him, say, a $2 million a year player. However, they're already paying two closers (Francisco Rodriguez and Billy Wagner) and two managers (Willie Randolph and Jerry Manuel).

Paying two second basemen — say, with the signing of free agent Orlando Hudson — would be a stretch. The Mets' next investment will be a starting pitcher, most likely Derek Lowe or Oliver Perez. They then look will for a utility infielder, someone who could replace Castillo for extended stretches, if necessary.

Alex Cora is not the only such player under consideration. The Mets pursued David Eckstein before signing Castillo, and Eckstein played 24 games at second base for the Blue Jays and Diamondbacks last season. Craig Counsell is another possibility.

Around the horn

The Diamondbacks made an offer to free-agent right-hander Jon Garland but no longer are pursuing him, according to a major-league source. The team also bid for Brad Penny but isn't necessarily in the market for a starter; Brandon Webb, Dan Haren, Doug Davis and Max Scherzer will be in the rotation, with Yusmeiro Petit, Billy Buckner, Juan Gutierrez and Travis Blackley all possibilities ...

The Orioles can't catch a break. The free-agent market is flooded with left-handed hitters, but the team's preference is a right-handed bat. A trade of second baseman Brian Roberts, meanwhile, is a growing possibility. The Orioles face gaping holes in their middle infield with Roberts signed only through next season and shortstop Cesar Izturis through 2010 ...

Free-agent right-hander Kris Benson could intrigue teams looking for a low-priced starter late in free agency. Benson, who has not pitched in the majors since 2006 and spent last season in the Phillies' system recovering from rotator-cuff surgery, threw 210 feet on flat ground this week "like it was 60 feet," according to his agent, Gregg Clifton. While Clifton acknowledges, "it's all hype until you see it," he says that Benson is stronger and more flexible than he has been at any point in his career.