Manny Ramirez had another phone conversation with Enrique Rojas, a reporter for ESPNDeportes, and took more shots at the Sox in an apparent effort to force a trade.

"They haven't asked me for anything," Ramirez was quoted as saying in response to whether the Sox had asked his permission to trade him.

"The Red Sox don't deserve a player like me," Ramirez said. "During my years here I've seen how they [the Red Sox] have mistreated other great players when they didn't want them to try to turn the fans against them.

"The Red Sox did the same with guys like Nomar Garciaparra and Pedro Martinez, and now they do the same with me. Their goal is to paint me as the bad guy. I love Boston fans, but the Red Sox don't deserve me. I'm not talking about money. Mental peace has no price and I don't have peace here."

The Sox brass, including ownership, met today to discuss a possible Manny deal. Coming out of that meeting, the belief was that there was only a slim chance of something happening, but they are still talking to clubs, especially the Marlins, so stay tuned.

Update from Gordon Edes at 12:05 a.m.: The Palm Beach Post reported that the Sox had reached a tentative agreement with the Marlins and Pirates in which Manny Ramirez would go to Florida, the Marlins would send OF Jeremy Hermidia to Piitsburgh as part of a multiplayer package, and the Sox would receive OF Jason Bay and LHP Josh Grabow. My sources tell me that is not true, a deal has not been struck, but the sides continue to talk. It may be getting close.