Actually if you read Reversing the Curse they don't like the way Manny deals with "people of influence" etc. which is why they pushed so much for A-Rod because he can deal with people very well like that.
I really think they're not fans of Manny.
Whatever the contract is, Manny is one of the great hitters of our generation and letting him go would just be dumb. Nobody would ever pitch to Ortiz again.