The beginning of the end? Dodgers place Manny Ramirez on waivers

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Manny Ramirez has been placed on waivers by the Dodgers, according to a baseball source who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The move could lead to the Dodgers severing ties with Ramirez, who is hitless in two games since returning from his third stint of the season on the disabled list.

Teams can submit claims for Ramirez until Friday. If Ramirez is claimed, the Dodgers can let him go, which would result in the team with the winning claim assuming the remainder of his $20-million salary.

The Dodgers also could pull him back and keep him or trade him to the team with the winning claim.

The Chicago White Sox are reportedly planning to claim Ramirez, and the Texas Rangers have had a scout following Ramirez for the last week.

If no team claims Ramirez, the Dodgers would be free to trade him to anyone.

The source said Casey Blake, Scott Podsednik and Jay Gibbons also had been placed on waivers by the Dodgers.

For more on Ramirez and the waiver process, read this story that ran in the Tuesday edition of The Times.

-- Dylan Hernandez