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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 1:28 p.m., Thursday, March 5, 2009

MLB: Giants not fazed by Dodgers signing Ramirez

Associated Press

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — San Francisco had a ho-hum reaction to Manny Ramirez's return to the rival Los Angeles Dodgers, considering it inevitable.

"Everybody figured that he was going back there. It seemed like it was just a matter of time," Giants outfielder Randy Winn said.

"I don't think we are really fazed by it. Manny is a great, unbelievable, I don't think I can come up with enough superlatives to describe him as a hitter. ... But we believe in the guys that we have here. We're anxious to go out and see how the chips fall."

Ramirez agreed to a two-year, $45 million contract on Wednesday. He hit .396 with 17 home runs and 53 RBIs in 53 games after being acquired by the Dodgers at the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline last year. Ramirez's acquisition may have cost Arizona the NL West title, the Diamondbacks were 2-7 against the Dodgers from that point on and lost the division by two games.

But the Giants won four of their six meetings with the Dodgers after Ramirez's arrival.

"We're excited to have him back in our division. It's a challenge, and you want to embrace the challenge," Giants left-hander Barry Zito said. "Whatever team he goes to, he's going to change the balance of power. We're not going to back down from the challenge."

Ramirez is a .235 career hitter against Zito.

The Giants finished 72-90 last year, 12 games behind the Dodgers, but split the season series, 9-9.

"We're only concerned about the Giants and what we're doing," infielder Kevin Frandsen said. "You know how much they wanted him after the way he changed the atmosphere. We're focused on the guys we have in here, and going out and playing good baseball."