What do you think of the decision to put Manny Ramirez on irrevocable waivers? Will another team -- (gulp) Yankees -- take on the $104 million remaining on his eight-year, $160 million contract? If no team claims Ramirez, will the All-Star slugger get traded?

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This is a boneheaded move, in my opinion. Manny is one of the best righthanded hitters I have ever seen and the only TRUE slugger in the Sox line-up (others had career years in '03, but most likely production will go down). What is to stop the Yanks from scooping up Manny AND Vlad Guerrero. I wouldn't put it past 'em. This is going to backfire big time and the fans of Boston will have to pay. In addition, I think that the media is a bit to harsh on Manny. He play hard and makes good - even great sometimes- plays in the field. He gets a bad rap and any team would be lucky to have one of the best pure hitters in the game. This news was like a punch in the stomach this morning.

Jenna , Buffalo, NY

Very rarely are an emotional and a business decision so closely aligned.

Harry, Stowe

Stupid. Nobody is dumb enough to pick him up and it only makes Manny more unhappy (he was a huge Graddy fan ). Not to mention why would somebody trade for somebody that nobody wants for free. If somebody picks him up I take it all back and will say it's the best thing the sox have done since the D-lowe Variteck trade and I think dumping Manny would be better.

Dan, Boston

Great move, I hope the Yankees take him. It'll free up salary to sign some free agents this year, plus resign some of the guys next year. I'd rather have Manny, Tek, and Nomar resigned than Manny for the next few years.

Sam

I like Manny but when thinking about all the other stars we need to keep and how replaceable what each one does, it makes perfect sense. Sluggers are easier to replace than shortstops or pitchers. Adios my frien....

Chris, JP

I hope the yankees get him so they have to deal with his laziness and lack of power. 35 homers for a guy getting paid 20 milion is crap. Georgie please take Manny so we can have some room to sign Vladi and Trot and move Trot over to left. Bring in Tejada and Vinny Castilla and move Nomar out west and Meuller to second. Let Tek go as well and bring in Javy.

Brian, Beverly

Wow, what a crazy two weeks - Out of the four highest paid athletes in Boston (Manny, Pedro, Vin Baker, Antoine Walker), one has been shipped out of town (Walker), another given his possible walking papers (Manny), one sitting pretty in the Dominican (Pedro), and the one least likely to be getting praise (Vin Baker) is slowly becoming a hometown favorite! Unreal! I think it was a smart move by the Sox to do this - if it pans out and they get Vlad or a top pitcher. Manny is not worth $100 million for the crap they have to put up with concerning his attitiude. If they don't get any takers, and can't trade him...well it will either show Manny they aren't going to take his crap anymore and he can come back a changed man, or make him not want to come back at all, and we'll bascially be stuck with his salary. Never a dull moment in Red Sox nation!!!!

jason, quincy

It's a waste of time. The Yankees are going to sign Vlad for $15 million a year, so there's no need to further ruin team chemistry.

Sean, Southie

Stupid move, why not just try to see whats out there behind closed doors, now they are going to deal with a hitter knowing he's not wanted and if the Yankees are smart, they don't pick him up with all the other free agents on the market and let the sox deal with the problem that they created. I am a die-hard red sox fan...and I know they are trying to free up money to keep Nomar, Varitek, Pedro etc. but not knowing for sure if the Yankees would grab him....considering they are the only team that can afford him. You would have been better off calling George Steinbrenner himself and just asking...maybe even picking up someone and still getting rid of salary. For all the red sox fans I hope this works whatever happens.

Wesley, Agawam, MA

Great move! I hope they do something with Pedro too. He's too arrogant and not worth the money. Hopefully somebody takes Manny so we can sign Nomar, Jason, Trot and Derek, team players.

Jim, Dorchester