I’ve got one two words of advice for the Los Angeles Dodgers right now: Have patience.

SI.com’s Jon Heyman is reporting that the White Sox have won the waiver claim on outfielder Manny Ramirez and the Dodgers now have until Tuesday to either trade him or pull him back. Ken Rosenthal is also reporting that L.A. has placed starter Ted Lilly on waivers, meaning a deal could also be forthcoming for him if he’s claimed.

The problem is that the Dodgers have won three in a row and are now only five games behind the Giants in the NL Wild Card race. Less than a week ago, it made sense to put players like Manny and Lilly on waivers seeing as how neither of them will be part of the team’s long-term plans. But today, things are much trickier.

Do the Dodgers keep Manny and Lilly in order to make a run at the playoffs or do they trade them and hope to get lucky over the next 30-plus games?

If they wait, that question could be answered for them over the next three days. The Dodgers are set to play the Rockies (who are four games back in the Wild Card chase) in Colorado for a three-game set starting tonight. If they take the series and the other Wild Card contenders (Giants, Phillies, Cardinals) struggle, then why not keep Manny and Lilly and try to make a run?

Look, I get it. It stands to reason that even with Manny and Lilly (who has been outstanding since coming over in a mid-season trade with the Cubs) the Dodgers don’t have much of a chance to make the playoffs. And even if they do, how far would they be able to go given their current collection of talent?

But what do you think they’d get for Manny and Lilly in a trade right now? Nothing of value, I can tell you that. They’d get some salary relief, but we’re not talking about a ton of money here.

Now, if they get swept by Colorado or even lose 2 of 3, then all bets are off. Trade Manny and Lilly for whatever you can get and use the money on draft picks or free agents next year. It makes no sense to sit six or seven games back in the Wild Card with just over 30 games remaining and carry dead weight.

But by all means, wait three days. The picture will become clearer at that point.