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?

Page 54

I always thought Manny would wear pinstripes, I just thought he would have to be incarcerated, but now the Boston "Hey let's give up our best player so someone else can have him and solidify our spot in history as the team that never will" Red Sox have made it so he doesn't have to be. Well, Here's to ten more years of This Is The Year. Way to "cowboy up" Theo.

john, rochester Nh

I think its ****........ After the season they had you would think they would actually want to stabalize the team and keep them all together. Not take the chance of having some other team pick him up and then we lose one of or biggest hitters.

Melissa , Dracut

I don't really care too much about the off-field behavior.....on field he was a lackluster fielder who lacked a competitive edge. It appeared, anyway, that Manny's primary concern was cashing his paycheck and not helping the team win any way he could. Team ball and situational hitting were nowhere to be found in Manny's repertoire, so I say sell him off and use the money to keep Lowe, Nixon, Pedro, Varitek and Nomar.

Keith, Boston

I think putting Manny on irrevocable waivers is the second best thing the Sox management team has done - the first best thing was firing Little! The Yankees would never take Manny because of his horrible attitude and baggage - the Stein man would never put up with his crap. Plus, he performs when he wants to and expects to be appreciated for that. The Sox management team needs to be hard ball busters to earn respect - then we'll finally win a championship! By the way, being from Boston and a Sox fan living in New York City is one of the worst things in life. Especially the day after October 16th.

Kim, New York, NY

Keep saying it to yourself, over and over. Manny can hit. Manny can hit. Manny can hit. Forget all the other stuff. Why doesn't anyone get it?

Ken, Littleton

This is part of my first step. I know Nomar and Mia are going to LA this winter and we will get Odalis Perez and some real good prospects. Then we will just trade Manny to Texas for A-Rod. I plan on re-signing Pedro, D-Lowe, Varitek though... also I am going to get us Freddy Garcia. Don't tell Larry I said this to you all though. love, Theo

Theo, Brooklyn.. I mean Brookline

If it frees up enough payroll to keep workhorses like Trot, Tek, D-Lowe, Nomar, etc. in red stockings for the next few years, plus allows us to sign a great starter like Colon or Petitte, it's a brilliant move. Manny's a great hitter but hardly worth his status as baseball's highest-paid player...especially given his occasional maddening immaturity.

Mike, Somerville

Based on my belief that the people running the Boston Red Sox today are the smartest and brightest people in all of baseball, I support the decision. They obviously have a plan which involves more than just saving Manny's salary. These are not just baseball people....they are extremely high level business people.

Elliott, Boynton Beach, Florida

Great move. I think his salary is too constricting for the team... 20% of the team's payroll to one player!!! I think the monies would be better spent on multiple postioin players.

Mike, North Reading

Good move... Manny is a good player and a fantastic hitter, but his attitude is too disruptive for the Red Sox clubhouse. Additionally, after watching him play during the 2003 playoffs, other than one or two good at bats during the playoffs, he was basically ineffective except for making the opposing pitcher pitch around him. Add that with his off-field antics and I think you can see why the Red Sox management decided they could make more effective use of the money they are paying for him. Let Steinbenner have him. I think Manny would look great in pinstripes AND it would really add some extra fireworks to next year's Red Sox / Yankees matchup now that Roger is gone. Now, let's ponder the concept of moving Pedro next!!!!

Dan, Boston