Lowell sinks teeth into Ramirez resolution

Although the Red Sox have yet to come to contract terms with outfielder J.D. Drew, who is slated to play right field this season, Mike Lowell was asked if he was surprised the Sox have not traded Manny Ramírez.

"Not really," said the third baseman, who was in town last night to receive an award at the annual Boston Baseball Writers dinner, "because if you're going to trade him, you've got to get something for him. Those numbers he puts up are too ridiculous.

"Manny in itself, we blow it out to be this saga. He's actually a guy who's very friendly with us and kind of stays to himself. It's not like he's a nuisance in the clubhouse, by any means.

"But we want him to play all year and be behind David [Ortiz] all year. I think when he's not in the lineup, it not only affected him but it affects David. David walked a ton when Manny wasn't in there. Manny, to me honestly, he's the best hitter I've ever seen."

Ramírez played in only 10 of the team's last 38 games last season, batting just .160 (4 for 25). The four hits represent half the total he had in an August weekend series against the Yankees in which he went 8 for 11 before coming out of the finale with what was called patellar tendinitis in his right knee.

Ortiz, who in that same span was sidelined more than a week with a heart scare, averaged more than a walk per game (32 in 29 games) after Ramírez went down. Before then, Ortiz had walked 87 times in 122 games.

Ramírez was named an All-Star for the 10th time last season and finished first in the American League in on-base percentage (.439) and fourth in slugging (.619). Neither Ramírez nor his agents have publicly weighed in on how he feels about coming back in 2007. And what if he is not inclined to play for the Sox ?

"I'm glad it's not my call," Lowell said. "I know it's been compared to other years, and I don't know how it was other years, but this past year if he says he's hurt, I've got to believe him, you know what I mean?

"That's a fine line, when you're questioning whether someone is hurt or not. If he says he's hurt, you've got to take his word for it. If you see him doing squats or running on the treadmill, that's another story."

That's precisely what confounded club officials and teammates last season, seeing Ramírez work out on the treadmill with no evident discomfort.

"I heard that but I never saw that," Lowell said. "If I did, I think I'd say something because I think that's something not too many players would take."

Asked if he thought the veterans might speak with Ramírez about any issues this spring, and about how much he's needed, Lowell said: "He knows how much he's needed. I think he likes to feel needed. You can't treat every player the same way. There are a lot of different personalities and his personality is very different.

"I think it is the responsibility of players if you think something is wrong to say it. I'd like to believe if I'm hurt and feel I can't play, no one is going to question whether I can play.

"I saw him in the trainer's room after every game, getting treatment, and waking up at the hotel getting massages in the morning. That's not the process of preparation for a guy who feels totally good and just doesn't want to play. So take it for what it's worth."

Jonathan Papelbon, honored as the team's best reliever and its rookie of the year, didn't rule out the possibility he'll close for the Sox again in 2007, despite plans for him to be in the starting rotation. Asked if he would be surprised if the Sox asked him to close, he said: "It wouldn't surprise me a whole lot, no. At the same time, we have some good competition at that position. [Craig] Hansen, [Manny] Delcarmen, [Joel] Pineiro. The competition is going to be stiff." New pitching coach John Farrell also hedged a bit. "To me, there are two main factors here: the needs of the club and what is in the best interest of Jonathan from a physical standpoint and from a short- and long-term perspective. According to the medical staff, at least to this point, he would be better served with extended rest in between outings, obviously, in the rotation." There was a high premium on closers this winter, Farrell said, which thwarted the team's efforts to bring in Papelbon's successor. "I think with Jonathan, the information to date is that [starting] will be his role." But if someone doesn't emerge out of camp as the closer? "I think there would be a number of people that would weigh into that conversation, starting with Theo [ Epstein] and the medical staff," said Farrell. "I think the one thing we want to be careful of is that we've taken the approach with Jonathan in this role as a starter, he's prepared for it physically. For us to shift gears on it right now is ill advised."

Daisuke Matsuzaka arrived in Los Angeles yesterday to begin working out at a Southern California training facility. He did not speak to the roughly four dozen Japanese reporters who were awaiting him at LAX, and has shown reluctance to do interviews at this juncture . . . Those planning to go to the Sox' opening road trip of the season, be advised the first game, April 2, is scheduled to begin at 3:15 in Kansas City. After an offday, the Sox are scheduled to play Wednesday at 7:05, followed by a 1:15 game Thursday, giving the team a headstart on a trip to Texas, where it will play the Rangers' home opener the next afternoon. The Sunday game is scheduled to be a night game on ESPN . . . Red Sox PR man Peter Chase, a Boston University grad, was named media relations director for the Chicago Cubs.

Sox owners John W. Henry, Tom Werner, and Larry Lucchino were present at the dinner, at which former Globe baseball writer Peter Gammons, who made a remarkable recovery from a brain aneurysm to resume his duties at ESPN, was presented the Judge Emil Fuchs Award for long and meritorious service to baseball. Ortiz, chosen by the writers as the Sox MVP, was in the Dominican Republic. But award winners present included Dave Dombrowski, the Tigers president/GM, who was named executive of the year; Papelbon; Lowell, who received the Jackie Jensen Award for spirit and determination; Curt Schilling, honored as comeback player of the year; Ryan Howard of the Phillies, who won the Ted Williams Award as baseball's best hitter; Jacoby Ellsbury, the Sox minor league player of the year; former hitting coach Ron Jackson, winner of the good guy award; and Worcester Telegram reporter Phil O'Neill, winner of the Dave O'Hara Award for long and meritorious service to the Boston writers chapter. Pirates GM Dave Littlefield accepted the Tony Conigliaro Award for courage and perseverance on behalf of Pirates third baseman Freddy Sanchez, a former Sox prospect.

Gordon Edes can be reached at edes@globe.com.