White Sox Get (Stuck With) Manny Ramirez

By Benjy Lipsman in News on Aug 30, 2010 2:22PM

We're still trying to understand why White Sox GM Kenny Williams thought that Dodgers slugger Manny Ramirez was the missing piece in the team's attempts to catch the Minnesota Twins in the AL Central race, and why owner Jerry Reinsdorf is willing to let Williams throw around his cash like he's "makin' it rain" in some club. After putting in a waiver claim last week for the 38 year old outfielder, the Sox were granted the claim on Friday. It now appears that the Dodgers are going to simply allow Manny to go to the Sox as a waiver claim rather than trying to working out a trade.

That looks increasingly likely after Manny was ejected during a pinch hit at-bat on Sunday. If that is the case, the White Sox are on the hook for the $3.82 million balance of his contract. Another possibility is for a trade of prospects in return for some salary relief. Regardless of how it happens, it now appears a done deal that Ramirez will be playing on the South Side for the rest of the season. If Williams really felt the need for an additional bat, why didn't he just bring back Jermaine Dye? Of course, we still think that the bullpen is the key to whether the Sox win or lose the division, so we'd have preferred that the team found a way to make a last minute deal for a relief pitcher instead.