White Sox Interested In Manny Ramirez

By Benjy Lipsman in News on Aug 25, 2010 2:00PM

While we believe that the White Sox's recent 5-10 record over their past 15 games greatly hurts their playoff hopes, GM Kenny Williams keeps looking for the deal that he thinks will help the club move past the Minnesota Twins and into the postseason as they are just 3.5 games out of first. The latest rumors are that Williams plans to claim L.A. Dodgers slugger Manny Ramirez off waivers sometime this week in hopes of consummating a deal to acquire him.

Williams tried to trade for the controversial slugger before the non-waivers trading deadline at the end of July. By claiming him off of waivers and reducing the Dodgers' leverage, can Williams make a deal? And will Ramirez really help the team climb back into first place? While he was once one of the most feared sluggers in the game, Ramirez has been limited this season due to injury and was suspended for 50 games for using illegal substances last year -- can he still produce like the player who's hit 554 career home runs? Whether he can help or not, we wish Williams had found himself some bullpen help instead. Between injury and ineffectiveness, the relief pitching has cost the team more games of late than any lack of offense.

And yet it looks like Ramirez and his baggage could be the final piece of the puzzle for the 2010 Sox. When manager Ozzie Guillen was asked about the possibility of dealing with Manny on his roster, he quipped, "I can handle anyone. I don't have to handle the players. The players handle themselves. I want to see how (Chairman) Jerry Reinsdorf is going to confront the hair. It ain't going to be my (bleeping) department."