A-Rod for Ramirez? It's an all-or-nothing deal

The Rangers remain open to trading MVP Alex Rodriguez to the Sox, and the Dallas Morning News reported yesterday that Texas would accept Ramirez on the condition Boston "ante up a significant portion" of the $95 million balance of Ramirez's contract over the next five years.

If the Sox acquired Rodriguez, they almost certainly would trade Nomar Garciaparra. But while team officials have not closed the door on the A-Rod talks, they made clear after Ramirez cleared irrevocable waivers last month that they would not subsidize him to play elsewhere.

"The Sox are not going to pay anyone to take his contract," a team source said. "Proving a point to him is one thing, but paying him to play somewhere else is just not going to happen."

Still, the possibility remains that Boston and Texas could somehow find common ground, just as the prospect exists that the Sox and Martinez could agree on a multiyear contract extension. Team executives, including general manager Theo Epstein, will meet with Martinez next week in the Dominican Republic in their first informal step since spring training toward negotiating an extension. Epstein also expects to meet with Martinez's agent, Fernando Cuza, at the winter meetings next week in New Orleans.

"I'm not going down there to sign Pedro Martinez," Epstein said of his trip to mark the opening of the team's new baseball academy in the Dominican. "Perhaps there will be a more substantive conversation in New Orleans."

Martinez, who will make $17.5 million next season (the most in the majors for a pitcher), has indicated he may accept less in the current market for an extension. The Sox could offer about $13 million or $14 million a year, though Epstein said striking a deal is likely to turn on whether both sides agree on where the market is for pitchers of Martinez's caliber.

"Sometimes it's easier said than done," Epstein said, "but we have tools to get there."

Even though Curt Schilling's deal (two years at $25.5 million plus a $13 million option for `07) pushed the Sox close to the luxury tax threshold, Epstein said the Sox hope to maintain enough payroll flexibility to accommodate their other needs. Notable among their short-term goals is acquiring Oakland's All-Star closer Keith Foulke, who is expected to choose from among the Sox, A's, Mets, and Cubs by next week.

Keeping up

While the Sox have pursued Foulke and considered their other needs, including a second baseman, bullpen depth, and bench players, the Yankees have waged a major response to last week's Schilling signing. New York has acquired starter Javier Vazquez as well as setup men Tom Gordon and Paul Quantrill as they close in on right fielder Gary Sheffield.

"We know where their payroll was last year and we know where it's going to be next year," Epstein said. "I didn't think they were going to just sit there and stand pat. I knew they were going to bring in some good ballplayers. I just assume they're going to have a fantastic ball club and be the team to beat every eyar. All we do is focus on our own ability to acquire talent and build a well-rounded club."

Acquiring Schilling was a major coup. "We feel pretty good about our starting rotation," Epstein said. "We still have some other needs to address, and we don't have quite as many resources as we wish to address them, but we like the position we're in. We're going to keep an open mind when we go to the winter meetings."

The market will change dramatically after Sunday's deadline for teams to offer their free agents salary arbitration. Teams that decline to offer arbitration cannot negotiate with their free agents until May 1. The deadline is expected to mark the end of second baseman Todd Walker's days with the Sox as the team declines to offer him arbitration.