Source: Manny Ramirez to Chicago

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DENVER -- Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder Manny Ramirez is headed to the Chicago White Sox on Monday in what is looking like a straight waiver claim, a league source with knowledge of the situation said Sunday on condition of anonymity.

The source said there was still some chance the two clubs will work out a trade that presumably would involve one from a list of a handful of prospects going from the White Sox to the Dodgers, a development that probably would mean the Dodgers would pay some percentage of the $3.825 million remaining on Ramirez's two-year, $45 million contract, depending on the quality of the prospect.

Another league source, also speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the Dodgers' preference at this point is to simply allow Ramirez to go to the White Sox as a waiver claim, in which case the White Sox would be responsible for the entire $3.825 million. The Dodgers have had that option available to them ever since the White Sox secured waiver rights to Ramirez on Friday.

The White Sox have until 1:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday to complete a trade with the Dodgers.

It is the White Sox, the second source said, who want the Dodgers to take a prospect in exchange for cash to cover a percentage of the money still owed Ramirez. The source either wouldn't or couldn't identify the prospect in question.

With the Dodgers slipping further out of contention for a playoff spot after losing two of three to the Colorado Rockies this weekend, club officials apparently decided to go ahead and part ways with Ramirez at a point when it still will save them a considerable amount of money.

The arrival of Ramirez comes at a key time for the White Sox.

The 38-year-old Ramirez likely would become the designated hitter in Chicago, especially considering his recent fragile history. He returned August 21 from his third stint on the DL this year.

The White Sox have lost nine of 14 and 13 of 20 to fall 4½ games back of AL Central-leading Minnesota with three games left in the season series between the teams. Interestingly enough, the first two stops on their 10-game trip are Cleveland and Boston, two of Ramirez's former clubs.

Ramirez already has played at Boston this season. As a member of the Dodgers, he was 5-for-12 a home run over the Green Monster in a three-game series in June.

Ramirez didn't start any of his final four games with the Dodgers. He pinch hit in the top of the sixth inning of Sunday's 10-5 loss to the Rockies but was ejected from the game after one pitch when he argued a called strike that appeared to be a few inches off the outside corner. That apparently was his final act in a Dodgers uniform.

Ramirez is batting .311 this season with eight homers and 40 RBIs, but has played in just 66 games due to injuries.

The 12-time All-Star became a fan favorite when he arrived in Los Angeles, with a section of seats named in his honor at Chavez Ravine and wigs that mimicked his dreadlocks suddenly becoming fashionable. Ramirez performed so well down the stretch during his first season in Los Angeles that the Dodgers signed him to a two-year, $45 million contract.

The injuries and last season's 50-game suspension following a failed drug test soured his stay, and Ramirez hasn't spoken to reporters since spring training, when he said this would be his final season with the Dodgers.

Tony Jackson covers the Dodgers for ESPNLosAngeles.com. Information from ESPNChicago.com's Doug Padilla and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Tony Jackson

ESPNLosAngeles.com

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• Joined ESPNLosAngeles.com in 2010
• Covered the Dodgers for the Los Angeles Daily News for more than five seasons
• Has covered Major League Baseball on a regular basis for 15 years in Denver, Cincinnati and Los Angeles.