For Manny, the hair has to go

CLEVELAND - In addition to gathering his belongings in Los Angeles on Monday before heading east to Progressive Field to join the White Sox, Manny Ramirez apparently stopped off at the barbershop.

Well known for his flowing dreadlocks, Ramirez is going to have to shorten up his hair before he dons a Sox uniform.

It's chairman Jerry Reinsdorf's rule, and there are no exceptions.

"We have a certain way we like to have our players represent us," said White Sox general manager Kenny Williams. "We'll just wait and let you see how (Ramirez) decides to handle it.

"From my understanding, it's not going to be an issue and he's going to make an adjustment and conform to how we like to have our players represented out there."

Manager Ozzie Guillen only has two rules: be on time for pregame stretch and be present for the national anthem. As for Reinsdorf's love of good grooming, Guillen is not getting involved.

"If a guy can go there butt naked and they can win a game for me, then I'm happy for them," Guillen said. "The hair, that's not my department. The hair, uniform, shoes, I haven't told any of my players since 2004 how to get dressed, how to wear their uniform.

"That's White Sox rules, and the White Sox are owned by Jerry Reinsdorf. He is the guy who pays us. We have to go by the rules."

Manny in 2011? A free agent at the end of the season, Manny Ramirez apparently is going to test the market and try to catch on with another American League team as a designated hitter.

Any chance he comes back with the Sox?

"I go into this with an open mind; he is our DH right now," general manager Kenny Williams said. "Let's see how it goes; let's see how he fits. Let's see how we all end up and what we have to work with dollar-wise next year.

"But that's 2011. Let's worry about 2010 now is my message to everyone."

F for Fuentes: GM Kenny Williams was asked about the Twins claiming left-handed relief pitcher Brian Fuentes off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels on Friday.

With Matt Thornton (elbow inflammation) on the disabled list until Thursday and Erick Threets (torn ulnar collateral ligament) out for the season, rookie Chris Sale is the only lefty in the bullpen.

"If you remember, we still had Erick Threets out there at the time and Matt Thornton was coming back, so why would we take on the dollars associated with Fuentes for him to be a guy that could come in in the fifth inning when you've got Chris Sale throwing 99 and a breaking ball that's snapping off the table and a plus change?" Williams said.

"I'm not really concerned about what the others teams do. Our situation was completely different, and Fuentes, he didn't fit for us."

Team player: Mark Kotsay was asked about his playing time diminishing when Manny Ramirez joins the White Sox.

"I'm not really concerned about it," Kotsay said. "There are 32 games left and we need to win baseball games to get to the postseason. That's my goal from the get-go, in Arizona, how do we get to the finish line in first place. I don't worry about playing time."