Manny to Boras

General manager Theo Epstein confirmed that Manny Ramirez has switched agents from Gene Matos and Greg Genske to Scott Boras.

That means that Boras now has seven clients expected to be on the major league roster for the Red Sox this season: Ramirez, J.D. Drew, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Jason Varitek, Jacoby Ellsbury, Alex Cora, and Julian Tavarez.

Ramirez said, yesterday, that it would be up to the Red Sox to determine whether or not he retires with Boston. The team holds $20 million options for 2009 and 2010, which Epstein said the team would decide on at the end of the season.

"They're the ones who've got my options, it's up to them to say, 'OK, we're going to pay,'" Ramírez said. "It's not up to me to go into the office and demand a four-year deal, or whatever. I'm going to come here to play the game, finish my year. If they want me to come back, I'll come back.

"I want to finish my career here, but it's up to them. If that doesn't happen, hey, I'll go and play somewhere else. I know I can still play and what else can I say? It's up to them. I'm not the one who writes the checks."