The Dodgers and Manny Ramirez -- their future to be decided by the next four games; he sits Friday

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And now the waiting begins. Just not for too long.

Sources have confirmed to the Times’ Dylan Hernandez that the White Sox have claimed Manny Ramirez off waivers.

What to do?

The answer apparently will be determined by the way the Dodgers play over the next four games. Which includes Friday’s game that Ramirez did not start.

Keep winning, draw a tad closer to the wild-card lead, and Manny isn’t likely to go anywhere.

Slip up, fall further behind -- particularly to the Rockies -- and Manny could be in a new uniform by Tuesday morning, the deadline for a player to be on a team’s roster and eligible for the postseason.

Previously, Dodgers General Manager Ned Colletti said he would not move a key player prior to Tuesday if the Dodgers were still in contention. Asked by reporters in Colorado on Friday where he was with that now, he replied:

‘I’d say probably not.’

Asked what it would take to change his position, Colletti said:

‘How we play. My thoughts are going to be fluid from now until then.’

That leaves four games to decide Manny’s fate as a Dodger. Four little games that will apparently dictate to the Dodgers whether they are still in this or not, whether they suddenly go from buyers to sellers.

Manager Joe Torre, who has yet to say whether he’ll return next season, said he is totally focused on winning this season and that he and Colletti are on the same page.

‘We’re trying to win,’’ Torre said. ‘We’re certainly not looking to jump ship.

‘I think we’re close enough now that if we continue to play as hard-nosed as we did the last few days that we certainly are not giving up thoughts of the postseason.’

Torre said Manny was out the lineup Friday not because of the leg injury that had him on the disabled list earlier this month, or anything to do with the waiver wire, but simply because he struggles against Rockies starter Ubaldo Jimenez.

Manny was 1-for-13 lifetime against Jimenez, with six strikeouts.

-- Steve Dilbeck