Dodgers Move Closer to Sending Manny Ramirez to White Sox

Manny Ramirez is likely on his way out of Los Angeles for good.

Although nothing is finished yet, the wheels are in motion for completing the transaction that would send the embattled slugger from the Dodgers to the White Sox, FanHouse has learned. The Los Angeles Times was first to report that a deal may be close.

The Dodgers still have until Tuesday to try to work out a trade, or they just could let Ramirez go, with the White Sox taking him and the remaining $3.8 million on his contract. Subsequent reports indicated that Los Angeles was intending to let the slugger go to Chicao on a straight waiver claim.

Ramirez was placed on waivers last week and claimed by the White Sox on Friday. Although GM Ned Colletti said that he did not feel obligated to trade Ramirez, perhaps in part because the Dodgers had cut their deficit to four games in the wild-card race, the weekend did not go well. The Dodgers lost two of three, falling six games back, and Ramirez was ejected on Sunday for arguing a called strike.

Ramirez would have to waive his no-trade clause to be assigned to the White Sox, whether he's traded or allowed to go on the waiver claim.

The bad weekend for the Dodgers didn't help Colletti's leverage, as White Sox GM Kenny Williams no doubt determined that the Dodgers have no reason to keep Ramirez, and therefore he has no reason to give up even a marginal prospect for him. Although the White Sox would be responsible for the rest of his salary, only about $1 million of that has to be paid this year. The rest is deferred through 2013.

Ramirez, 38, has been on the disabled list three times this year, the final year of his two-year, $45-million deal with the Dodgers. He is hitting .311 with eight homers and 40 RBI in 66 games.

Ramirez would presumably plug the White Sox' hole at designated hitter. Chicago must be hoping that Ramirez comes to life with a salary drive just like he did after the Dodgers got him for the final two months of the 2008 season.

The White Sox, who lost two of three over the weekend, trail the Twins by 4 1/2 games in the AL Central.

It was a weekend in Major League Baseball that saw a replay-aided walk-off homer, a new NL MVP candidate emerge and the end of "Mannywood." FanHouse TV's Steve Phillips tells us what he learned. Click to watch: