Report: Manny says he's open to a trade
Manny Ramirez told ESPNdeportes.com Sunday he would not be opposed to a trade from the Red Sox, according to the website.
"If the Red Sox are a better team without Manny Ramirez, they should trade me," Ramirez told the website. "I will not object."
The ESPNdeportes interview contains Ramirez's strongest comments since this weekend's controversy began.
"I don't have any preferences," Ramirez told the website. "I could choose a team that offers me the best conditions or one in the chase for the postseason. I don't care where I play, I can even play in Iraq if need be. My job is to play baseball."
After missing Wednesday's game against the Mariners with a sore knee, Ramirez stirred up controversy by taking himself out of the lineup before Friday night's game against the Yankees. The team order MRIs on both of Ramirez's knees (which came back clean) and also called a closed-door meeting to discuss the situation, with a highly placed source telling the Globe that Ramirez would have been suspended had he requested to sit out Saturday afternoon's game against New York.
"I'm a ballplayer with more than 500 home runs and almost 2,000 RBIs. I'm a professional. I don't know how anybody can say I could be making it all up," Ramirez told ESPNdeportes about his knee injury.
Ramirez was back in the lineup Saturday against the Yankees. Francona addressed the situation, telling reporters, "This week, you know what, we had some misunderstandings. There's no way getting around that. It doesn't mean he's a bad person. We expect a lot; again when things don't go right, we try to make them right.
"We've run into bumps in the road ever since I've been here and there have been some before I've been here," Francona said. "The result of two of the times has been a World Series ring. As a team, sometimes you fight through things, sometimes you work through things. It's not always perfect, but how you get to the end is what counts and that's what we're trying to do."
The Red Sox hold a $20 million option on the 36-year-old slugger for each of the next two seasons.
"If they can get a trade, I'd approve it. If they can't trade me, then they will simply have to inform me by the end of the season that they won't use the options and we'll go separate ways," said Ramirez, who must approve any trade.
"I don't want to be a problem and a distraction to the Red Sox in such a critical moment of the season. I want to help the team, even if that means I have to go...The Yankees are getting closer and getting stronger, while we haven't done much. I could say that right now there's a strange atmosphere in our team."
Typical Manny thinks playing in Iraq is funny while our men and women risk our lives each day for our country!
The Herald is way ahead of you in posting on the falling rain, plus in reporting comments from Julio Lugo about Manny's pain, not wanting to be traded, etc. Come on, what's the point of this blog?????
The Sox would be STUPID if the traded Manny.
Does that sound like a guy who wants to go? I'm so disgusted by the front office on this whole issue. A lot of us do realize that you're trying to screw Manny over by trying to make him look like the bad guy. It's make it easier to rationalize to RSN.
get rid of him......He is doggin it.......He is a 36 yr old ball player that feels like he is entitled to special treatment. Get rid of him and get some one younger we can lock up.....I have been a big manny supporter but its time to call it quits.....as for making him look bad? he has punched youk, pushed an elderly man to floor now he is pulling this junk with fake injuries.... come on Kim wake up
the sox should pick up both next year and the year afters option.
mark my words he will be a yankee next year. abreu will be off the books and the yankees will sign him to a 2 yr 40 million dollar contract...just what the sox wouldnt do. find another bat to replace him
Wow... a $20 option...
Manny doesn't want to cause a distraction??? That's exactly what you want to do... Stir up enough crap so the Sox have no choice but to trade or release him... This is just the begining Folks... It's gonna get worse until he's gone... Remmemger Ty Law?? Same thing... Another money grubbing Pro Athlete trying to milk every last penny out of the team.. 20 mill's not enough Manny???? You want more??? You've already made more than the GNP of the Dominican Republic... I was a big Manny fan but he's just like the rest of them... Good Riddance
When is Manny being Manny enough????
Many, it seems like you want to be a Yankee. You don't swing against Mariano. You don't play against JABA... I'm sure you'll be one next year. Good luck to you as the Sox will actually have someone who'll run down ball in left field and throw them back as a real player.
I JUST DON`T GET IT. RSN ARE SUPPOSE TO HAVE BASEBALL INTELLECT.
BUT HERE YOU ARE REGURGITAING THE SAME OLD STORY ABOUT
MR.MANNY .SO IN AWORD... GROW APAIR &GROW -UP.
Manny has been on the team for a long time, and theyd be stupid to trade him
I'm a Yankee fan. Please don't ever trade Manny! We know he's not playing with a full deck, but it would take too much juice out of the rivalry. Yankee fans and Boston fans need to hate each other.Having both teams at full strength, locked and loaded, enhances the thrill of victory or the agony of defeat.
I agree with Kim. Read what Manny said. He knows the fans love him, but the Red Sox brass is evil.
Just like everything, if they can make a deal that will help the team now and in the future, then pull the trigger. Trade him along with Coco and Hansen to Baltimore for George Sherril, Adam Jones and Matt Weitters. If they cannot get value for the present and the future. then keep him; they hold the options.
Sports is entertainment, and Manny is one of the most entertaining out there, on the field and off. That said, he's not a good fit for the Red Sox because he's not focused on winning at all costs (like Ortiz, Youk, etc.). I actually like the guy because he never takes things too seriously, but he'd be best suited (for him and for the team) to a market that values entertainment over winning.
Keep Manny until you can get Teixera. Then trade Manny.
Manny should be traded to the Boston Fire Department where he would fit right in!
any chance we can trade Manny for prospects and then flip those prospects to Colorado for Holiday? That would work for me
do not trade him
It would be foolish to let this prize hitter go. Yes we deal with his antics but we also dealt with Williams, Yaz, Rice, Boggs, Clemens, and Pedro. That's the calibur of athlete that he is. The guy get's paid to play baseball. Not answer to the media or the fans. It would be absolutley ridiculous to let one of the top hitters in the game go in the middle of a pennanet race. Do we forget that this guy carried our team. At the begining of the season we lose Ortiz to injury but Manny is still in the lineup and the put Drew in the 3 hole and Drew put's up the numbers. Manny is the anchor in our lineup keeping us grounded and not flying with no offense. I must STRONGLY DISAGREE with "curley haired girlfriend" Manny must stay. The guy has 500 hr's and is one grand slam away from having the most in a career. We are about to break up one of the most lethal 3-4 combos in baseball history because we are worried about sombody's antics give me a break this isn't tiddly winks people, this is baseball which is played by all types of characters from Mark "the bird" Fidrych to Bob Stanley. It would be unjust of Red Sox nation to give up on Manny now when we need him the most
It doesn't make sense for the team to trade Manny. The Sox will get two premium draft picks when Manny leaves as a FA. It's doubtful they get at least that type of quality prospects in return.
The Sox should just tell Manny that they won't pick up the optiion so that he knows he'll be a FA and have to A) Play and B) Put up big numbers in order to get a big contract from the next team.
Let the Sox ride Manny's salary drive to another World Series Championship.
Anybody who thinks the sox should trade Manny is stupid. There is a 0% chance of getting back to the worls series without his bat in the lineup. There is no bat on the market now through trade, or this winter through free agency that can replace his production. If you want him gone then you do not want to win. The sox front office is not that stupid. Hey, I don't like the guy and all the crap he pulls, but I enjoy pennant races and the sox being relevant. Without him to finish the season they become a 3rd or 4th place team in the east and you can kiss the post season goodbye.
DuVal.....easily the most incomprehensible, poorly writen, and grammaticly incorrect post I have ever read.
I Like in Shaughnessy article that Epstein has wanted to get rid of Manny since the end of the 2003 season. Maybe there is another Lugo ,Renteria or Drew you can sign...Keep chasing one of the greatest hitters ever out of town !!!!!!... Ortiz will never see a pitch to hit....
if the sox trade manny they will finish in 3rd place this year gaurenteed hes .300 30 and 100 every year money in the bank he has eraned that option to be picked up what did the sox win before he got there? thats right nothing 500 bombs world series mvp what more do they want most consistant player other than ted williams theyve ever had instant contender from the moment he got there he is the key to the whole line up i hope u dont think jd drew can handle the pressure of hitting behind papi no question anout it the sox cannot compete in that divison without manny
What I find hard to believe is that Manny's teammates let him get away with his childish, unprofessional behavior. He is a terrible example to young ballplayers with his lack of hustle and woeful fielding. He makes even the most routine play in the outfield an adventure. I also think his skills at the plate are diminishing. I would love to see the Sox trade him, but I doubt any other club would take him. It is too bad the Sox can't just DH him for the remainder of this year and next.
Finally, shame on the front office for not suspending him over the McCormick incident.
(post 14) Norm,
Why do people think that anyone in the league is available? Do you think the Red Sox or the Orioles would trade within the division? That's insane.
Manny's problem is his agent. Boras doesn't get a dime on Manny's extension years in his currenty contract. He's got Manny thinking he can get a 4 year deal somewhere (sound familiar?) for $100Million.
I don't live in New England anymore, but I'd just bet Shank has raised his TV appearances recently by picking up the Manny shanking. And while I don't see anything wrong with what the FO is doing (it is a business after all), CHB leaves his "professionalism" on the side of the raod hwn he allows himself to be manipulated by them.
Manny does no fit into the cookie cutter mold the sox are looking for. The sox management no longer has to worry about winning, the 2 world series wins has bought them several years before the fans start to whine. Right now the sox management is just printing money and they know that will go on with or without Manny so it's time to save the 20 million.
Sox fan, You knew what you were getting when you signed Manny 7 1/2 years ago. Manny was being Manny for 6 years in Cleveland. When you rent a player you get a rent-a-player. You did not give up anything to get him so don't get hung up on what you can get for him now. GO TRIBE!
What is the big deal? He said what almost everyone here would have said to their employers - "You don't think I am contributing?...Get rid of me!" I am sure he is sick & tired of having every utterance & burp analysed to the n-th degree for nuances to see if there is something to crucify him with. Enough already! I do not care if he is a serial-killer - just win baby!
Theo needs to stand-up and show that Shaughnessy & his ilk of senile buffoons are not running this team. I notice they are not writing a lot about Tek not hitting his weight or being out-homered by Dusty Pete!!! Oh I forgot - he is a "solid citizen"!!! (Read - white!!!!). Between Manny & Tek right now - Manny is more critical to winning.
Why just let him behave badly? Imagine if the whole team hustled when they wanted, skipped games, leave shirts open, wear baggy pants, run thru signs, (why bother having 1st & 3rd coaches,)push older folk around, laugh about poor fielding plays, etc, etc.
His crap may seem funny, but in reality it only helps to ruin a good old sport called baseball.
You do not break up the best 1-2 hitting duo in the game. Now that Ortiz is back, we will see Manny and Ortiz hit like crazy and carry the team as usual. Then people will forget the silly antics that Manny has done. This is nothing new, Boston sports press is making too much of a deal about this. Manny is a goof ball but one of the greatest hitters ever, GET OVER IT !!!!
Miserable Manny and all his millions....
Yeah Manny you aren't the only one who's tired... you don't want to play for the Red Sox?
Great- Go away.
He's not worth the fuss or the distraction- yeah he can hit, so can a lot of other guys, who actually DO want to play for the Red Sox and play hard.
He's lost his charm and I'm sure he's hurt morale on the team.
Hey, I'd take Pedro back for Manny.
How about that trade with the Mets?
Hell, I'd take Favre for Manny.
Hilarious Globe considerations on who could take Manny's spot on the roster.
Manny- not so funny.
There's no question the Sox should keep Manny and pick up both options. Just try to find a replacement for less money. I say trade all the media members & fans that have grown bored with winning.
The Red Sox should send Many to Iraq for a year at a soldiers pay. Then we could all see how a SPOILED RICH boy reacts when he has to actually do something other than wine for more money. It is about time that the owners start cutting these outragous salaries. Maybe then will the real game of baseball come back with players who play for the game, not the money.
The only person on here that made any sense of this whole deal was Mike.
His idea Trade Manny to the Rockies for Holliday. That is by far the best deal, however i would send Hansen, Coco, Manny, and maybe a few prospect to the Rockies for Holliday and Fuentes. This is the ideal trade for the Red Sox, we would get help for our bullpen along with getting rid of an on goign hassel in Manny. The Red Sox don't want to trade him to an AL team, so the Rockies i think is the best choice, besides i would rather see Holliday hitting behind Papi then Drew.
No Red Sox treated Manny dirt. That's Why Manny got upset. 20 Million per year for Manny is pretty cheap for today market. so it is pretty good deal for Red Sox. they knew that..
jack
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