We’ve been covering the news developments of Manny Ramirez’s possible trade to the South Side over the last few days around these parts. As a quick recap: the Sox were awarded the waiver claim for Manny, and the Dodgers and the Sox must now decide if they want to work out a deal or if Manny is to stay in L.A. until the end of the season.
↵Sports Illustrated’s Jon Heyman thinks that Manny’s recent benching (now at four days and counting) is a good sign for those hoping to see Manny wearing black by the end of the week. Heyman suggests that there are only three likely reasons for the benching of Ramirez:
↵1. The Dodgers want to avoid a deal-ending injury to Manny
↵2. The Dodgers are trying to convince Manny to accept a deal
↵or
↵3. The Dodgers think Manny isn’t very good and simply don’t want to play him.
↵If Heyman is correct and any of these three reasons are why Torre has benched Manny of late, then it would certainly seem that Kenny Williams might have succeeded in bolstering the White Sox for a stretch run.