LOS ANGELES – Most relationships, whether business or professional have similarities that can be obvious. Rejection hurts no less if the behavior manifests itself in a business context rather than a personal one.For reference please see the recent Los Angeles Times article about discussions between Scott Boras, agent for Manny Ramirez and Los Angeles Dodgers GM, Ned Colletti.

See if you recognize the signs of two people who went their separate ways and who while afraid to be hurt again are testing the waters to see if there is a way to resume their relationship.

In November, the Dodgers made a contract offer to Manny for two years in the amount of $45 million. At the time, Boras said thanks but no thanks since he had been looking for a 5-6 year deal. The Dodgers left the offer on the table for a week or so and then pulled it back.

According to Boras, Colletti was to get back to him after informing the Dodgers that it would take a longer deal to get Manny back into Dodger blue.

Boras went about tending to his other big client, Mark Teixeira, who is now happily ensconced within the New York Yankees organization.

The losing bidders for Teixeira have either been silent on the Manny front or have come right out and expressed their disinterest. That is until this past Monday when Ned Colletti spoke to the Los Angeles Times and admitted that Ramirez was still the team’s first choice. And then Monday’s newspaper announced the team’s continued interest. Boras didn’t take that as a personal affront. Rather, he saw it as a sign that the Dodgers were ready to talk about renewing an offer for Ramirez and were putting their toe in the water to see how cold it was.

Mission accomplished: Boras told the newspaper that talks had begun.

Since then, the Dodgers are said to be reworking Andruw Jones’ contract to make room for Manny.

It matters not whether Manny returns to LA for the purposes of this discussion. It is obvious that like a couple that broke up after a brief relationship, neither was ready for direct contact and decided to use an intermediary to determine the extent of the other party’s interest.

Even though tens of millions of dollars are at stake and players as well as team execs acknowledge that it is a business first and foremost, the pride at stake is the same as if a romance were hanging in the balance.

I find that fascinating and somewhat helpful for someone like me who is asked for opinions about how situations like this play out. If the Dodgers are too tentative and don’t show the proper excitement they might lose out to a third party who will be willing to give Manny what he wants.

There’s always another fish in the sea. Just check out the personals.

Happy New Year everyone