Adios, Manny Ramirez

And just like that, Manny Ramirez is on his way out of town.

The Chicago White Sox, who claimed him off waivers on Friday, are about to acquire the veteran for nothing but salary relief.

Ramirez is owed anyhwere from $4.1-$4.4 million for the rest of the season depending which source you believe. Either way, this is a win for the Dodgers -- and the White Sox.

The White Sox get a guy who isn't always the most motivated player playing for a 2011 contract. There's no doubt in my mind he's going to mash. He's going to be a hot fantasy waiver wire pickup.

The Dodgers were reportedly deciding whether or not to pay a portion of Ramirez's salary to acquire third base prospect Jon Gilmore from the White Sox. Gilmore is in his age-21 season (just turned 22) and has a solid .318 average and .354 on-base percentage, but he hits for minimal power. His career slugging percentage in the minors is .380, which just isn't going to cut it at the hot corner. He also owns an .887 fielding percentage, which could spell a move to a corner outfield position.

Long story short, he's a fringe prospect at best (not ranked by Baseball America in the White Sox's top 30). It seems the Dodgers know this and aren't going to send any money to Chicago.

The Dodgers get some much-needed salary relief. There's no way they were going to offer Ramirez arbitration after the season, so getting him off the books (for this season, at least) a month early is well worth it. Not to mention he's played sparingly since returning from the disabled list.

The Boston fans tried to warn us Dodger fans of Ramirez's antics. We were so blinding by his mashing that we blew them off and said they were just jealous. Now, far be it from me to agree with anything that comes from Boston -- but they were right.

Aside from the last two months of the 2008 season, Ramirez has been a disappointment. His numbers have been solid (.297/.413/.524), but that hasn't been enough for Dodger fans to overlook everything else -- 50-game suspension, lack of hustle at times, his 2010 season, etc.

This guy won over the L.A. crowd in the matter of a few weeks. That is a difficult feat that almost no athlete can lay claim to. Hell, for a time, he was probably more popular than Kobe Bryant. But how quickly that went away.

Ramirez might very well the best hitter the Dodgers have ever had. Even without the performance-enhancing drugs, the guy was still going to get into the Hall of Fame (kind of like the 'roider [allegedly] in 'Frisco).

It's unfortunate the Ramirez-L.A. relationship had to end this way. He had a chance to be as beloved as Fernando Valenzuela, but he couldn't take advantage of that.

Ramirez may not help the ChiSox get into the playoffs, but he'll rip the cover off the ball, ultimately earning a 1- or 2-year deal following the season from an American League team.

In the meantime, Scott Podsednik should start the majority of the season in left field. Come the winter, the Dodgers will -- once again -- be looking for a big bat to plop in the middle of the lineup.

White Sox claim Manny Ramirez

The Chicago White Sox officially won the waiver claim on Manny Ramirez today.

This was long expected, as the White Sox were the only team to show legitimate interest in Ramirez prior to the July 31 trade deadline.

The Dodgers have three options here:

1. They trade Ramirez to the White Sox for players not on the 40-man roster or players on the 40-man roster who have cleared waivers;
2. Pull him back not not trade him, thus being stuck with his salary the rest of the seaosn ($4.1-$4.25 million);
3. They can just let Ramirez go to the White Sox for nothing but salary relief.

With the Dodgers just five games back in the wild card race, GM Ned Colletti might not be so quick to trade Ramirez.

This would be foolish. Ramirez has been injured much of the season and can barely field his position anymore. The Dodgers aren't too likely to offer Ramirez arbitration following the season, so getting whatever they can for him would be the smart move.

The Dodgers need minor league catching depth. The White Sox have a few catchers of interest, including Tyler Flowers. However, Flowers is on the 40-man roster and can't be traded without clearing waivers (which he wouldn't). Josh Phegley is another option. He's 22 and has had a taste of Double-A, which means he isn't too far away.

Third baseman Brent Morel could also be an option. He's 23 and in Triple-A right now, where he's putting up a solid .323/.353/.502 line. Third base is also a weakness within the Dodger system, so Morel would make sense.

Frankly, anything the Dodgers get in return for Ramirez is a plus. His days in the National League are numbered. The ride was good while it lasted -- or at least until Ramirez was busted for a banned substance. A return to the American League will do him some good and extend his career two or three more years.

Let's just hope the Dodgers' recent "hot streak" does not deter them from doing the right thing -- trading Manny Ramirez to the White Sox.