This time, Ramirez may mean it

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. -- A trade of Manny Ramírez took another step toward becoming a reality yesterday when Ramírez's agent, Greg Genske, met here yesterday with Red Sox CEO Larry Lucchino and team chairman Tom Werner, and agreed to explore trade options.

The meeting, which was also attended by Jed Hoyer, assistant to the general manager, comes in the wake of a discussion a couple of weeks ago between principal owner John W. Henry and another Ramírez representative, Gene Mato, in which Mato told Henry that Ramírez wanted to be traded. Ramírez threatened not to report to spring training, Mato told Henry, if his trade demand was not satisfied.

In a meeting that did not include Lucchino and Werner, Hoyer and the other three members of the Sox' baseball operations department representing the club here met with Scott Boras, the agent for free agent Johnny Damon, and discussed the ''parameters" of a deal, according to Lucchino. The Sox CEO would not say whether the club intended to make Damon an offer before the 15-day window of negotiating exclusively with the free agent closed today, but it appeared unlikely.

A trade request from Ramírez is hardly unprecedented in his time with the Red Sox. Almost from the day he arrived after signing an eight-year, $160 million contract in December 2000, Ramírez has on various occasions expressed a desire to leave. Similarly, the Sox have demonstrated a desire to move him. They've placed him once on irrevocable waivers, made him the centerpiece of a swap for Alex Rodriguez that never was consummated, talked with the Mets last winter about a trade, and revisited the Mets at the July trading deadline.

This time, however, it appears Ramírez and the Sox are working in concert to move him. Genske said he and the Sox' brass agreed to ''work together on exploring trade options and alternatives.

''We want to do what's in the best interests of the Red Sox and in the best interests of Manny," Genske said.

A persuasive, and perhaps unassailable, argument could be made that it would be in the Sox' best interests to keep Ramírez, who in his five seasons in Boston has remained one of the most prolific hitters in the game, hitting .315 while averaging 40 home runs and 122 RBIs a season. With 45 home runs last season, Ramírez joined Carl Yastrzemski as only Sox players with three seasons of 40 or more home runs. His 144 RBIs last season ranked third in the American League.

Werner insisted that keeping Ramírez remains an option.

''By no means," he said, when asked if yesterday's meeting should be interpreted as a definite indication that Ramírez will be traded. ''Larry said we'll explore it. I wouldn't be surprised if we conclude that it's best for the Boston Red Sox to retain his services."

Genske also said ''we're not ruling out any options at this time," when asked if Ramírez could wind up staying.

But the specter of an unhappy Ramírez could compel the Sox to trade him. In the past, the club appeared motivated to move him because of a contract they felt hindered their roster flexibility, but with just three more guaranteed years (there are an additional two club option years) at slightly less than $20 million a year, that would not appear to be as great a hindrance as it once was. Lucchino said yesterday payroll flexibility remained ''a possibility."

As a 10-5 player (at least 10 years in the majors, five with one club), Ramírez would have veto rights over any deal.

''Because Manny is a 10-and-5 guy, there needs to be some give and take or some exchange of preferences and places," Lucchino said. ''So obviously, we have to work together. So we told them we would be willing to explore that, but he needs to give us some guidance."

Asked if he was convinced that Ramírez wants to be traded, Werner said: ''I don't know. I haven't talked to him."

Added Lucchino: ''We're not trying to make light of it. He has expressed from time to time a desire to explore this and we're going to in good faith actively explore it."

The Mets would appear to be the Sox' most likely trade partner, having shown an enthusiasm for Ramírez in the past, and with players (center fielder Mike Cameron, top prospect Lastings Milledge) the Sox might find appealing. Ramírez has expressed a preference for Anaheim, but the Angels would seem a less likely destination, unless Ramírez would be willing to DH. The Angels have Garret Anderson to play left field, and Anderson doesn't want to DH full time. The Sox also are likely to explore multiple-team trade scenarios, like the one in which Tampa Bay was also involved with the Mets in the trading deadline talks.

Tomorrow, other teams will be allowed to make offers to Damon and the other Sox free agents, a list that also includes third baseman Bill Mueller, first baseman Kevin Millar, reliever Mike Myers, second baseman Tony Graffanino, reliever Matt Mantei, and first baseman John Olerud. Prospective free agent Mike Timlin already re-signed with the club.