Manny claimed by the White Sox

[E.J.]

he clock started ticking on Manny Ramirez's future as a Dodger on Friday, when the Chicago White Sox were awarded a waiver claim that gives them exclusive rights to make a deal to acquire Ramirez over the next four days.

 

The teams now have until 1:30 p.m. ET Tuesday to complete a trade.

 

According to a source monitoring the waiver wire, the White Sox were one of three teams to claim Ramirez after the Dodgers placed him on trade waivers Wednesday.

 

The Texas Rangers also claimed the 38-year-old future designated hitter, a source told ESPNDallas.com's Richard Durrett.

 

And there were strong indications that the other team to claim Ramirez was the Tampa Bay Rays. But the White Sox had first dibs because they had the lowest winning percentage among the AL teams that put in a claim. None of other 15 NL teams claimed him.

 

Ramirez was not in the Dodgers starting lineup on Friday against the Rockies, raising further speculation that he could be on his way out of Los Angeles.

 

"It's somewhat of a gamble if you are willing to step out there like we sometimes are," White Sox general manager Kenny Williams said Friday night. "Like we often are, in the situation we are. In a two or three day period, you can find yourself further back and wonder whether or not you've done the right thing."

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/news/story?id=5503956

[UMFan83]

Not that it's always worked out but they always seem to be in the hunt for a big name player. I can't remember the last time the Cubs were. Probably Peavy and we didn't get him.

 

Again, not saying its a good or a bad thing, although I presume it would give me a little excitement.

[Sammy Sofa]

You can't remember 2 years ago?

[EhDubya]

Man, just imagine how good we'd be if we had just swung that Peavy trade..

[Little Slide Rooter]

Judging by WSCR this afternoon, Sox fans are all ready to buy their Manny jerseys, but dont realise that the Dodgers are only 5 games out of the Wild Card race, and even if they were to trade him, I cant see them giving him up for nothing.

[dew1679666265]

Not that it's always worked out but they always seem to be in the hunt for a big name player. I can't remember the last time the Cubs were. Probably Peavy and we didn't get him.

 

Again, not saying its a good or a bad thing, although I presume it would give me a little excitement.

 

Peavy

Brian Roberts

Harden

 

Back a bit further:

Beltran (I think we were considered longshots)

Thome

 

Going way back, weren't we really close to getting Randy Johnson back in 98 when he was traded to Houston? I seem to remember hearing we were getting really close to acquiring him.

[UMFan83]

You can't remember 2 years ago?

 

Yeah I can't remember if Peavy is the last "big" (arbitrary term) named player we've pursued.

 

Since then the White Sox have pursued several big names and are linked to others (Adrian Gonzalez). Again I'm not saying the Cubs are wrong or right for not being heavily involved in big names, especially considering the state of the club right now. I'm just saying it would be exciting if we were in a position to add talent and it was a big name. I'm desperately seeking excitement from the Cubs.

[Jazz]

soriano anyone?

[Sammy Sofa]

Does Rich Harden no longer exist?

 

And the Kenny Williams circus show is not something to long for. All he's concerned with is doing something "big" regardless of whether or not it's actually what his team needs. I'd much rather see the Cubs be like the Twins when it comes to post-deadline moves.

[erik316wttn]

Not that it's always worked out but they always seem to be in the hunt for a big name player. I can't remember the last time the Cubs were. Probably Peavy and we didn't get him.

 

Again, not saying its a good or a bad thing, although I presume it would give me a little excitement.

 

Peavy

Brian Roberts

Harden

 

Back a bit further:

Beltran (I think we were considered longshots)

Thome

 

Going way back, weren't we really close to getting Randy Johnson back in 98 when he was traded to Houston? I seem to remember hearing we were getting really close to acquiring him.

 

My memory could be fuzzy as it was 12 years ago, but I seem to remember Johnson's two most likely destinations being the Yankees (for sure) and I think Cleveland? I don't recall the Cubs being in the mix.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Ill give you Peavy, but I really dont seee Brian Roberts or even Rich Harden as big names, not of the caliber of guys like Manny and Adrian. Harden was too high of a risk coming in to be considered that caliber, otherwise we wouldnt have gotten him for a decent pitching prospect, and low level catching prospect, and spare parts. The thing bout the White Sox is that their farm system always seems weak, but Kenny Williams always seems to get his guy. However, in this case, it all hinges on the Dodgers weekend.

[SouthSideRyan]

but Kenny Williams always seems to get his guy.

 

Like Adrian Gonzalez and Adam Dunn.

[Outshined_One]

but Kenny Williams always seems to get his guy.

 

Like Adrian Gonzalez and Adam Dunn.

 

And Juan Pierre and Scott Podsednik.

[KaiserCesar]

When did this reputation for KW start? The earliest trades I can remember were back when he got Carl Everett and Robbie Alomar in 2003 and a lot of rumors that never came to be. I want to say Soriano was a pretty big target in the 2006 season, too, and people were saying that he 'always gets his guy'

[dew1679666265]

My memory could be fuzzy as it was 12 years ago, but I seem to remember Johnson's two most likely destinations being the Yankees (for sure) and I think Cleveland? I don't recall the Cubs being in the mix.

 

Yeah, I could be way off on that. I was thinking the Cubs got in late on him much like the Astros and ended up just missing out on him. I have a bad memory though.

[dew1679666265]

Ill give you Peavy, but I really dont seee Brian Roberts or even Rich Harden as big names, not of the caliber of guys like Manny and Adrian. Harden was too high of a risk coming in to be considered that caliber, otherwise we wouldnt have gotten him for a decent pitching prospect, and low level catching prospect, and spare parts. The thing bout the White Sox is that their farm system always seems weak, but Kenny Williams always seems to get his guy. However, in this case, it all hinges on the Dodgers weekend.

 

Manny's a bigger name than any of those guys, but I don't know that Roberts and Harden are lesser names than Gonzalez. Roberts was a fairly big name back a few years ago in his prime and Harden still is.

[Sammy Sofa]

What does it matter if a GM "always gets his guy" (and KW doesn't) if "his guy" usually isn't what the team actually needs?

[questionmarkgrace]

What does it matter if a GM "always gets his guy" (and KW doesn't) if "his guy" usually isn't what the team actually needs?

 

eh, Manny will help that team. There offense has been explosive lately and yes they probably need a middle reliever more but their DH production has to be pretty low overall. I still don't understand what they saw in Mark Kotsay.

 

I don't know about always getting his guy but I really can't fault Kenny's last two waiver deals. Peavy was a solid albiet risky pick up but the reward probably outweighed the risk. Its easy to now to see Peavy as an aging injury prone starter last year it didn't seem so clear. Rios wasn't the player we saw last year so they were right to think he was due for a bounce back. They definitely needed a centerfield so I thought it was a decent move for them last year until I saw how lost he looked, however in limited time. But given his production this year its was a solid move. Especially if he can repeat this year going forward.

[Sammy Sofa]

That doesn't sound like a good strategy at all.

[SouthSideRyan]

So claiming Rios was a good move because it turned out well for the White Sox, in spite of the fact that the Sox were picking up a big contract for a guy who sucked. Trading for Peavy was also a good move, because in spite of the fact that it turned out to be a total [expletive] disaster, you thought it was a good move at the time.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Ill give you Peavy, but I really dont seee Brian Roberts or even Rich Harden as big names, not of the caliber of guys like Manny and Adrian. Harden was too high of a risk coming in to be considered that caliber, otherwise we wouldnt have gotten him for a decent pitching prospect, and low level catching prospect, and spare parts. The thing bout the White Sox is that their farm system always seems weak, but Kenny Williams always seems to get his guy. However, in this case, it all hinges on the Dodgers weekend.

 

Manny's a bigger name than any of those guys, but I don't know that Roberts and Harden are lesser names than Gonzalez. Roberts was a fairly big name back a few years ago in his prime and Harden still is.

 

I put Gonzalez in the same boat as Justin Morneau. Put him in a bigger market, and he may well be one of the top 10 "names" in the game, at least as far as potision players go.

[Little Slide Rooter]

So claiming Rios was a good move because it turned out well for the White Sox, in spite of the fact that the Sox were picking up a big contract for a guy who sucked. Trading for Peavy was also a good move, because in spite of the fact that it turned out to be a total [expletive] disaster, you thought it was a good move at the time.

 

Seems to me, at least over the past few years that Kenny Williams strategy is to do whatever it takes to win right now, and deal with the future when it comes. As I said before, he always seems to get his guy, although he gives up a hell of a lot to get him.

[SweetZombieJesus]

So claiming Rios was a good move because it turned out well for the White Sox, in spite of the fact that the Sox were picking up a big contract for a guy who sucked. Trading for Peavy was also a good move, because in spite of the fact that it turned out to be a total [expletive] disaster, you thought it was a good move at the time.

 

Picking up Rios was a good move because they planned to play him in center. Where he was you know he could be a mediocre hitter but as long as he fielded the position well a good centerfielder with power potential isn't cheap anymore.

 

Picking up Juan Pierre and Mark Teahen those were bad moves.

[Sammy Sofa]

So that means you actually think they were good moves, right?

[NCCubFan]

Manny got tossed after one pitch in a PH appearance today.