SAN FRANCISCO -- The Los Angeles Dodgers did receive a handful of inquiries from other clubs as to the availability of Manny Ramirez in advance of Saturday's trading deadline, general manager Ned Colletti acknowledged. While Colletti wouldn't say how many clubs inquired -- a major league source speaking on the condition of anonymity said it was four and that two of them were the Chicago White Sox and Tampa Bay Rays -- Colletti did say he was willing to at least listen to those offers.
"We got a call from one team offering us a very low money figure with no players attached to it," Colletti said. "That was what began it. When that got out, a couple of other teams did call. Calls came in with a half-hour, 45 minutes to go [before the deadline]. That was cutting it a little too close to get anything done, especially given that Manny would have had to waive his no-trade clause.
"At the end of the day, we still need Manny. We still need him to get healthy, play left field and bat in the middle of our order."
The aforementioned source said the White Sox offered the Dodgers $1 million cash for Ramirez, a relatively tiny amount considering the $6 million to $7 million Ramirez is still owed on his two-year, $45 million contract, which carries so much deferred money that the Dodgers won't be finished paying it off until after the 2013 season.
Colletti said another potential trade involving Ramirez never happened because it was contingent on the interested club, which he didn't identify, to make another deal first so it could flip that player to the Dodgers for Ramirez. That club wasn't able to make that move.
Ramirez presently is on the disabled list for the third time this season, all with leg injuries. If he clears waivers -- and he clearly will, given that any team claiming him would be forced to pick up the rest of his $20 million salary for this season -- he still can be traded through Aug. 31.
Tony Jackson covers the Dodgers for ESPNLosAngeles.com.