BOSTON – Infuriated yet again that they are dealing with a four-alarm “Manny being Manny” moment, the Red Sox plan to investigate potential deals for Manny Ramirez between now and the July 31 trade deadline, sources said last night.
The Mets already have checked in on Ramirez, with whom GM Omar Minaya is infatuated. However, sources said the Mets’ No. 1 nemesis, the Phillies, have the best chance to trade for Ramirez because Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel has perhaps the strongest relationship with him of anyone in the majors.
Manuel was Ramirez’s hitting coach with the Indians from 1994-99 and his manager in Cleveland in 2000, and the two have remained close.
Mets officials have indicated they do not want to invest the time or money to track Ramirez, a player they have pursued heavily before and failed to land. They do, however, need a corner outfield bat with pop, preferably right-handed, and Ramirez fills that description.
The Red Sox are more likely to retain Ramirez and then not pick up his $20 million 2009 option. If they do deal him, they are determined not to move him to an AL club that could threaten either Boston’s playoff chances or which the Red Sox could face in the postseason.
Arizona is known to have some interest, as well, but officials from other teams say the Diamondbacks seem more committed to pursuing the potentially available Braves first baseman Mark Teixeira than anyone else. Besides, with 10-and-5 rights, Ramirez can refuse any trade and the belief is he might not accept a trade to anywhere but Philadelphia. To agree to be moved, Ramirez almost certainly would demand a contract extension or the written promise that his option will not be picked up, which would make him a free agent after the season.
Boston manager Terry Francona admitted there is unease again with Ramirez. A day after the left fielder removed himself from the starting lineup against the Yanks, citing a sore right knee, Ramirez was back at cleanup in Boston’s 10-3 loss yesterday.
There were rumblings Ramirez simply didn’t feel like playing Friday (he had also missed Wednesday’s game in Seattle, citing the knee). Ramirez avoided reporters before yesterday’s game.
“We had a little bit of a misunderstanding this week,” Francona said, “there is no way to get around that.”
One published report said Ramirez would have been suspended by the team had he removed himself from yesterday’s lineup. Before Friday’s game, Francona was seen huddling with ownership in his office. The manager refused to divulge what was discussed, but didn’t dismiss the idea Ramirez would have been suspended had he removed himself from yesterday’s lineup.
Last week, Ramirez angered team management by saying he didn’t believe he was being treated fairly.