THE NEW YORK TIMES: MANNY RAMIREZ SIGNS A CONTRACT–AFTER SEARCHING FOR COMMON GROUND

Manny Ramirez, the infamous Boston Red Sox veteran, has had a harder time than he thought finding someone who is willing to pay what he thinks he is worth in baseball.  In the desperate economy, the only offer Manny would accept came from the Dodgers.  there was a meeting a few days ago to make sure that Manny was okay with the contract.  Manny wanted a lot of money and the Dodgers wanted more of the bump in ticket sales that they saw last season when Manny played for them.  The only way Manny could get what he wanted financially out of playing baseball was to go with a team who really needed him that much to even be considered to win the pennant.  Their common ground was to increase their cash flow.  It may be that they both got their way. 

 Question to the Blogosphere:  Is this how sports contracts are usually constructed?  In this failing economy, do you think that contract negotiations will be more evenly matched–with the teams now having leverage constraining the grossly-overpaid baseball players’ demands?  Can the economy increase the bargaining space between parties to contract negotiations?  The economy served as leverage to Manny in the summer while oil prices and costs of living were high and leverage to the Dodgers this winter when no one else could afford the moody mitt-wearer–which other issues switch sides like this?