Dodgers place Ramirez on waivers
As was expected to happen at some point this week, the Los Angeles Dodgers placed outfielder Manny Ramirez on waivers. The 38-year-old slugger has had nagging injury problems all season and with his expensive contract and the Dodgers season slipping away, they’re ready to act.
Teams who are interested in Ramirez have until Friday to claim him off waivers. They’d then have until 31 August to make a deal with the Dodgers for him. Due to Manny’s big salary, the Dodgers would likely pay some of his remaining salary in exchange for a prospect. Ramirez also has a no-trade clause meaning he’d have to waive it if the Dodgers were to move him.
It has been reported that the Chicago White Sox were interested in Ramirez and would claim him off waivers. Being that the White Sox are in the American League, that may decrease their chances in getting him. National League teams have the first crack at Ramirez and he’d have to pass all NL teams before the White Sox could make a claim on him.
The structure of Ramirez’s contract does make it easier for teams to pay him. Most of his $20 million salary is paid off and a team that gets him will only have to pay $1.1 million for the rest of the season and $3.3 million in deferred salary. Ramirez can also ask for compensation from the Dodgers in return for waiving his no-trade clause.
Ramirez has missed 59 games this season while being on the disabled list twice. He was also suspended for 50 games last year after failing a drug test. He stated that this would be his last season with the Dodgers. That may either mean retirement or that he’ll hit the free agent market this winter. Suffice to say, his value will be much lower at 38 years old and with declining numbers. The bright side for a team that picks him up is that he’s always had a knack for putting up great numbers come playoff time and teams who are heading to the post-season may find him useful come October.
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