Dodgers’ Manny Ramirez returns to the lineup

The roles have been numerous for Manny Ramirez during his brief tenure as a Dodger — an absolute sensation, lightning rod of controversy, disappointing, oddly silent, frequently injured.

He returned Saturday night, though, with a new role: the last go-round.

The Dodgers activated the outfielder from the disabled list, immediately inserted him into the lineup in the third spot and then crossed fingers in hopes his fragile right leg would hold up.

Whether that’s for the final six weeks of the season, or just seven or eight games before the Aug. 31 waiver trading deadline, remains to be seen.

Either way, however, this figures as the beginning of the end for Ramirez as a Dodger. His two-year, $45-million contract expires at the end of the season and it’s understood the 38-year-old will attempt to finish his career in the American League as a designated hitter.

All the struggling Dodgers know right now, however, is they are in desperate need of his bat. In whatever condition it may be.

Ramirez, who struck out and grounded out in his first two at-bats Saturday, has missed half the season while on the disabled list with three right leg injuries. He has played in only one full game since June 29. Most recently he had been on the DL since July 16 because of a calf strain.

“Am I curious? Am I going to hold my breath?” Manager Joe Torre asked. “Yeah, probably a couple of those things. But the only way you’re going to find out is to send him out there.”

Ramirez was not the slugger who had powered the Dodgers to the 2008 playoffs this season, but was still a highly effective hitter. He was hitting .317 with eight home runs and 39 RBIs in 186 at-bats before going back to the disabled list.

“Am I expecting him to be sharp?” Torre asked. “Not necessarily, but he knows how to hit. And the fact that he’s not necessarily trying to pull the ball is going to help him, just sort of getting back and reel himself in a little bit.

“We’ll see. I’m certainly not going to find anything out if we keep him on the bench as a pinch hitter.”

Ramirez, however, is not scheduled to play Sunday. Even when healthy, Torre was not playing him in day games. And with an off day Monday and day games Thursday in Milwaukee and Sunday in Colorado, Ramirez might appear in only seven games before the trading deadline.

If the Dodgers, who started Saturday 12 games back of the San Diego Padres in the National League West and eight back of the Philadelphia Phillies for the wild card, fall any further back, it’s possible they could trade him.

Scouts from Texas and Tampa Bay watched Ramirez during his rehab appearance in San Bernardino for the Class-A 66ers and were back at Dodger Stadium on Saturday night.

Meanwhile, Torre said he would play Ramirez as much as his health permits.

“If he can play, he’s going to stay out there,” Torre said. “You have to pretty much leave it to him.”

The return of Ramirez sent Scott Podsednik to the bench Saturday. Podsednik, acquired while Ramirez was on the disabled list as outfield insurance, had been leading off for the Dodgers. He’s hitting .289 with four steals as a Dodger.

Torre said he was uncertain exactly how he would mix his four outfielders — Andre Ethier, Matt Kemp, Ramirez and Podsednik.

“We need a winning streak right now,” he said. “A winning streak to feel good about ourselves. I’ll basically use all the guys. I’ll use matchups and what not, and we’ll see. We’re trying to win games. It’s going to be my decision on how we try to do it.”

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