Dodgers introduce newly acquired OF Ramirez

Aug 1, 2008 - 11:47 PM LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- "Manny Being Manny" has officially gone Hollywood.

The Los Angeles Dodgers introduced newly acquired outfielder Manny Ramirez to the media on Friday just hours before the disgruntled slugger was set to make his National League debut.

"I'm happy to be here and whatever happened in Boston, happened," Ramirez said. "I'm excited to be here in a new league, a new team, and I'm going to try my best."

Ramirez, who will sport No. 99, was the marquee name in a three-team blockbuster trade in which the Boston Red Sox received Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Jason Bay on Thursday, just minutes before the non-waiver trading deadline expired.

"This is a new chapter in my life and I want to come here and play and move on," Ramirez said. "Like I said, I'm happy to be here and that's all I can say. (Los Angeles) is a great city and I'm proud to be a Dodger."

The deal came one day after Ramirez criticized Red Sox management and claimed that he had been mistreated by the defending World Series champs in an interview with ESPNDeportes.

"I want to thank the fans in Boston - I love you guys," Ramirez said. "There's been the ups and the downs and I wish everyone the best. But I'm in a new city and I'm ready to move on."

Ramirez batted .299 with 20 homers and 68 RBI in 100 games with Boston this season.

In 2004, the 36-year-old helped the Red Sox win their first title since 1918 - earning World Series MVP honors - and also was a major contributor to their 2007 title run.

Ramirez joins a Dodgers club that already has a crowded outfield of Matt Kemp, Juan Pierre, Andre Ethier and Andruw Jones, who has battled injuries and poor play throughout his first season in Los Angeles.

"I'm here in a new league and I'm going to try to do what I do best - baseball," Ramirez said. "Every day, there's something to be learned whether you're young or old."

But Dodgers manager Joe Torre should have no problem plugging Ramirez into an offensively-challenged lineup that ranks in the bottom five in the majors in runs, home runs and slugging percentage.

"Manny, in his own right, is certainly special," Torre said. "I think he will do a lot for everybody's personality for one, and also the fact that you certainly don't want to pitch to Manny with men on base - chances are the guys hitting in front of him will get some good pitches to hit."

The Dodgers enter Friday two games back of the first-place Arizona Diamondbacks in the NL West Division and 5 1/2 games back of the Milwaukee Brewers in the wild card chase.

"I don't want to be treated differently than the other guys," Ramirez said. "I'm going to give all I can and try to help this team win. I'm excited to be a Dodger, excited to wear blue, and we'll what happens."

To acquire Ramirez, the Dodgers sent third baseman Andy LaRoche and minor-league pitcher Bryan Morris to the Pirates, who also received reliever Craig Hansen and outfielder Brandon Moss from the Red Sox.

According to multiple reports, the Red Sox will pay the remaining $7 million on Ramirez's contract for this season.