A week following the Red Sox' abortive waiver claim of Johnny Damon, another ex-Idiot appears ticketed for a legitimate move to a contending AL team. Manny Ramirez, illegal drug-user and professional malcontent of the Los Angeles Dodgers, has been claimed by the White Sox, who plan to use him as a DH on their late-season push to catch up to the Twins in the AL Central.
After coming over in a deadline deal from the Red Sox in '08, Manny spent about a combined nine months as L.A.'s golden boy before receiving a 50-game PED-related suspension, putting up underwhelming offensive numbers (combined with predictably lackluster defense) once returning, and spending much of '10 on the shelf with injuries.
Manny, who knows how to make entrances and exits like no other current MLB player, certainly gave Dodger fans a lingering taste in their mouths with what will likely be his last at-bat with the club. Coming up as a pinch-hitter in the sixth inning from a game in Colorado, Manny took one pitch for a strike, and argued the call so forcefully that he was quickly ejected from the game. Video of the event (with a bemused Rockies fan's reaction for commentary):
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Philadelphia sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
I doubt it'll make much of a different standings-wise, but I certainly look forward to seeing Manny in the sleek, G-Funk-approved black-and-white of the (actual) South-Siders, as well as the inevitable drama to come by combining him with easily-incensed manager Ozzie Guillen. Hope he hangs on to the #99.