Ramirez Ends Silence and Dares Red Sox
Filed Under Shower Curtain | Posted on July 31, 2008
Manny Ramirez was standing behind a blue curtain that separated the Red Sox clubhouse from the trainer’s room. He was off limits to reporters, whom he had already dodged, and was continuing his silent stance regarding his feud with the organization.
But in typically unpredictable fashion, Ramirez emerged from behind the curtain, grabbed a drink and said he was ready to talk. And he unloaded, tossing gallons of verbal lighter fluid on an already combustible situation.
Ramirez said that he would agree to be traded if the deal was beneficial for him and the Red Sox, but he also added that the team would not dare trade him. He suggested that his often tumultuous seven-and-a-half-year relationship with the Red Sox had deteriorated beyond repair.
Still, in a phone interview earlier Sunday with ESPNdeportes.com, Ramirez said he did not care where he played and added, “I can even play in Iraq if need be.” Since Ramirez has at least 10 years of service time and more than five with the same team, he can veto any trade.
While Ramirez did not say he would waive his no-trade rights during the clubhouse interview, he said he did not expect the team to deal him. The Red Sox are investigating ways to shed Ramirez, but it will be difficult to get equal value for a player whose value is difficult to quantify. Ramirez’s quirky personality unnerves teams as much as his hitting ability enthralls them.
Ramirez said he thought the Red Sox no longer wanted him. In a reversal from a week and a half ago, Ramirez stressed that he no longer wanted to discuss his contract with Boston. He sounded resigned to closing out the Red Sox chapter of his career.
Ramirez and the Red Sox have been together through better, which includes the two championships, and worse, including his recent injury and his shoving of the team’s traveling secretary.
The Red Sox may be trying to unload Ramirez once and for all, but executives from other teams said it was unlikely they could do it before Thursday’s nonwaiver trading deadline.
After Ramirez finished speaking, he waved reporters toward the exit and told them it was time to go. Soon, Ramirez said he would be willing to head out the clubhouse door for the last time.
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