Major League Baseball

Sources: White Sox tried to get Manny

Published Jul. 31, 2010 1:00 a.m. ET

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Leave it to the White Sox to try and pull off a deadline shocker.

The White Sox, frustrated by their inability to land Adam Dunn, plan to make another run at Dodgers left fielder Manny Ramirez in the final hours before the non-waiver deadline at 4 p.m. ET, major-league sources say.

One source described the White Sox’s attempt to land Ramirez as “a halfcourt shot” that is still in the air.

The Dodgers rejected the White Sox’s initial overture on Ramirez, which came shortly after the Dodgers acquired Royals outfielder Scott Podsednik on Wednesday night, sources say.

The White Sox wanted the Dodgers to pay all but $1 million of Ramirez’s remaining salary and did not offer a player in return, according to a source with knowledge of the discussions.

“Not happening,” the source said.

Ramirez, currently on the disabled list with a right-calf strain, is on a rehabilitation assignment. He would need to waive his full no-trade clause for any deal.

If the White Sox could acquire him, they would need to accept him “as is,” believing that Ramirez would return motivated in the final year of his contract.

The Dodgers could keep Ramirez for the same reason, but sources say they are frustrated by his lack of reliability; this is his third trip to the DL this season.

Ramirez also could be a trade candidate in August; he almost certainly would clear waivers due to his $20 million salary.

For the White Sox, who have trying to add a hitter, the shocking acquisition of Ramirez would be standard operating procedure.

The White Sox made two stunning moves in last year’s trading period, acquiring right-hander Jake Peavy at the deadline and then claiming outfielder Alex Rios on waivers in August.

The Dodgers, meanwhile, obtained a potential replacement for Ramirez this week when they obtained outfielder Scott Podsednik from the Royals. But if they traded Ramirez, they would miss his run-producing bat.

Ramirez was the biggest player traded at the deadline three years ago, when he went to the Dodgers in a shocking three-team trade that sent outfielder Jason Bay to the Red Sox.

While Ramirez is not quite the threat that he was then, he remains a dangerous hitter when healthy, and the White Sox’s U.S. Cellular Field is a hitter-friendly park.

This season, Ramirez is batting .317/.409/.516, with eight home runs and 39 RBIs.

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